Namibia’s Founding Father and Liberation Icon, Sam Nujoma Dies at 95

• Namibia’s first president, Sam Nujoma, passes away at 95 after a historic leadership.
• Led Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa and served for 15 years.
• Remembered for his role in reconciliation, but his legacy includes autocratic tendencies.

Sam Nujoma, the revolutionary leader who steered Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990 and served as its first president for 15 years, has passed away at the age of 95.

Widely revered as Namibia’s “founding father,” Nujoma died on Saturday night following a three-week hospitalization in the capital, Windhoek, the Namibian presidency announced.

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“The foundations of the Republic of Namibia have been shaken,” the presidency declared in a statement, adding that a period of national mourning would be observed.

A charismatic leader and symbol of Namibia’s liberation, Nujoma played a pivotal role in guiding the country to democracy and stability following decades of colonial rule under Germany and a brutal war of independence against South Africa. His leadership placed him among the last of a generation of African freedom fighters, alongside Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, and Samora Machel of Mozambique.

As the head of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) since its formation in 1960, Nujoma led the fight against South African rule. When Namibia gained independence in 1990, he became the nation’s first president and remained in office until 2005. He officially retired from politics in 2007 at the age of 78, though his influence over the ruling SWAPO party persisted.

Nujoma’s tenure is widely credited with fostering national healing and reconciliation after years of deep divisions caused by the independence struggle and South Africa’s apartheid policies, which sought to divide the country along ethnic lines. Even his political opponents acknowledged his role in shaping Namibia’s democratic constitution and incorporating white business leaders and politicians into the new government.

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However, Nujoma’s legacy is not without controversy. While he successfully established democratic institutions, critics have pointed to his autocratic tendencies and confrontational rhetoric. He was known for his fierce anti-Western stance and opposition to homosexuality, which he condemned as a “foreign and corrupt ideology.” He also controversially described AIDS as a “man-made biological weapon.”

Despite these criticisms, Nujoma remains an enduring symbol of Namibia’s fight for freedom, leaving behind a nation forever shaped by his leadership and vision.

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