Sam Nujoma

Namibia’s first president and independence hero, Sam Nujoma, has passed away at the age of 95, the Namibian presidency announced on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

Nujoma, who led Namibia’s struggle for independence from South Africa, had been hospitalized for three weeks due to an illness from which he could not recover, President Nangolo Mbumba confirmed in an official statement.

"With utmost sorrow and sadness, I announce the passing of our revered freedom fighter and revolutionary leader," Mbumba said. "Our Founding Father lived a long and consequential life, serving the people of his beloved country exceptionally."

Born into a poor farming family from the Ovambo tribe, Nujoma was the eldest of 10 children. In 1949, he took a job as a railway sweeper in Windhoek while attending night classes. During this time, he met Herero tribal chief Hosea Kutako, a prominent activist working to end apartheid rule in what was then South West Africa.

Nujoma went on to become the first president of Namibia in 1990, shaping the nation’s future after decades of colonial rule. His passing marks the end of an era for Namibia and Africa’s liberation history.