President of Namibia Hage Geingob dies aged 82

Namibian President Hage Geingob has died at the age of 82, his office has said, less than three weeks after it was announced he would undergo treatment for cancer.

Geingob died on Sunday at Lady Pohamba Hospital in the capital Windhoek with his wife and his children at his side, acting president Nangolo Mbumba said in a statement posted on Geingob’s official Facebook page.

“It is with utmost sadness and regret that I inform you that our beloved Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the President of the Republic of Namibia has passed on today.

“At his side, was his dear wife Madame Monica Geingos and his children,” read the statement on X, formerly Twitter, signed by acting president Nangolo Mbumba.

Geingob, who was serving his second term as president, revealed last month that he was receiving treatment for cancer.

A biopsy following a routine medical check-up in January had revealed “cancerous cells”, Geingob’s office said at the time.

First elected president in 2014, Geingob was Namibia’s longest serving prime minister and third president.