Sam Nujoma, Namibia's Founding Father, Dies at 95

Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s first president and a central figure in the nation’s battle for independence, has passed away at the age of 95. Nujoma, known for his white beard and fiery spirit, led Namibia to freedom from apartheid South Africa in 1990. He held the presidency for 15 years and was hailed as the “father of the nation.”

His death was confirmed by Namibia’s current president, Nangolo Mbumba, who announced that Nujoma died on Saturday evening after being hospitalized in Windhoek, the capital. Nujoma had been receiving medical treatment for the past three weeks due to his ill health. Mbumba expressed deep sorrow, stating that the passing of Namibia’s founding president had shaken the foundations of the country.

Nujoma’s journey to independence was not easy. He spent nearly three decades in exile, leading Namibia’s fight for liberation. In 1989, after years of struggle, Namibia held its first democratic elections, and Nujoma was elected as the country’s first president in 1990. He guided Namibia through a smooth transition from colonial rule and a brutal war for independence. His leadership was crucial in ensuring peace and reconciliation in a country deeply divided by apartheid-era policies.

Revered as a father figure, Nujoma’s pragmatism helped heal the wounds left by years of ethnic division under South African rule. He even earned respect from political opponents for his commitment to building a democratic nation, crafting a new Constitution, and ensuring the involvement of white Namibian politicians and businesspeople in the government. His presidency fostered stability and progress in Namibia, despite the lingering scars of conflict.

In his later years, Nujoma attracted controversy for his anti-Western remarks and stances on various social issues. Notably, at the United Nations in 2000, he controversially claimed that AIDS was a man-made biological weapon, a statement that shocked many. His remarks on homosexuality also garnered international criticism, as he labeled it a "foreign and corrupt ideology."

Despite his bold rhetoric, Nujoma also formed significant international relationships. He maintained close ties with countries like North Korea, Cuba, Russia, and China, which had supported Namibia’s liberation struggle. At the same time, he sought to strengthen Namibia’s relations with the West, becoming the first African leader invited to the White House by U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1993. Clinton lauded Nujoma as "the George Washington of his country."

Nujoma’s commitment to gender equality also made a lasting impact. He was an advocate for women’s empowerment in a region traditionally dominated by patriarchy. Under his leadership, Namibia made strides in advancing women’s rights, culminating in the election of the country’s first female president in 2024.

Born in rural Namibia, Nujoma’s early life was marked by poverty and hard work. As the eldest of 11 children, he helped care for the family’s cattle and farmed the land. He attended mission school before moving to Windhoek to work for South African Railways. After being arrested for a political protest in 1959, he fled the country to Tanzania, where he established the South West African People’s Organization (SWAPO) in 1960. SWAPO became the leading force in Namibia’s struggle for independence, and Nujoma led the organization for nearly half a century.

In 1966, after South Africa refused to comply with a U.N. resolution to end its mandate over Namibia, Nujoma and SWAPO began their armed struggle for independence. Although SWAPO did not win a military victory, their efforts led to significant international support and eventually to South Africa’s withdrawal from Namibia. Nujoma’s leadership, although marked by a lack of formal education, was characterized by a relentless commitment to his country’s freedom and the empowerment of its peopl