InsiderBLM Africa
Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s first president and a key figure in its independence struggle, has passed away at the age of 95. Widely regarded as the father of the nation, Nujoma led the country to independence from apartheid-era South Africa in 1990 and governed for 15 years.
His death was confirmed by Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba on Sunday, stating that Nujoma died on Saturday night while receiving medical care in Windhoek.
“The very foundation of our republic has been shaken,” Mbumba said, adding that Nujoma had spent the past three weeks in the hospital undergoing treatment and observation.
“This time, despite his resilience, he was unable to overcome his illness,” Mbumba remarked.
He praised Nujoma’s leadership, saying he played a crucial role in guiding the country through its most difficult struggles for independence.
Throughout Namibia, Nujoma was celebrated as a unifying leader who helped the nation transition from colonial rule and conflict to stability and democracy.
Having spent nearly three decades in exile while leading the independence movement, he returned in 1989 to participate in the country’s first democratic elections. Soon after, he was appointed as Namibia’s first president when it officially gained independence in 1990.
He was part of a generation of African leaders who led their nations out of colonial rule, alongside figures such as Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, and Julius Nyerere of Tanzania.
Many Namibians credited him for fostering national reconciliation following years of division under South African rule, which had imposed ethnic segregation and restricted opportunities for non-white citizens.
Even his critics acknowledged his role in nation-building, despite accusations of suppressing opposition while in exile. He was recognized for establishing a democratic framework and ensuring that Namibia’s white minority had a place in the country’s governance.
While his leadership was largely pragmatic, Nujoma was known for making bold and sometimes controversial statements on the global stage. In 2000, he startled international delegates at a United Nations conference by suggesting that AIDS was deliberately engineered as a biological weapon. He also condemned homosexuality, calling it a foreign concept that had no place in Namibia.
At one point, he restricted foreign television broadcasts, arguing they had a harmful influence on young Namibians.
During his presidency, he maintained close ties with countries like North Korea, Cuba, Russia, and China, which had supported Namibia’s independence struggle.
At the same time, he engaged with Western nations, becoming the first African leader to visit the White House under U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1993. Clinton likened him to George Washington, describing him as a pivotal figure in the global movement for democracy.
Nujoma was also an advocate for gender equality, urging greater representation of women in leadership roles. His influence continues today, as Namibia elected its first female president last year, with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah set to take office next month.
Born into a poor rural family as the eldest of 11 children, Nujoma spent his early years helping his parents with farming. He later moved to Windhoek, where he took a job with South African Railways while pursuing his education.
Arrested in 1959 for his involvement in political activism, he fled shortly after his release and went into exile in Tanzania. There, he helped establish the South West African People’s Organization (SWAPO), becoming its leader in 1960. SWAPO remains Namibia’s ruling party to this day, with Nujoma at its helm for 47 years before stepping down in 2007.
When South Africa ignored a 1966 United Nations resolution calling for Namibia’s independence, Nujoma launched an armed resistance.
“We had nothing but a few firearms and ammunition, which I managed to secure from Algeria,” he once recalled.
Though SWAPO never achieved outright military victory, the movement gained international support, leading to U.N. recognition and eventually forcing South Africa to withdraw.
Despite leaving school early to work, Nujoma valued education and later attended night classes to improve his English. However, he remained committed to the idea that his true calling was leading his country to freedom.
“Others had the chance to study while I fought for independence,” he once said.
