Former President Sirleaf Pays Last Respect to Late Namibian Leader Hage Geingob

MONROVIA – Former Liberian leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has paid her last and final respect to late Namibia President Hage Geingob.

Madam Sirleaf joined several current and former head of states at the funeral of the late Namibian leader on February 25, 2024 in Heroes Acre on the outskirts of the Namibia capitol Windhoek.

Madam Sirleaf on her official X (formerly Twitter) handle said “It’s with great sadness that I paid my respects to late President Hage Geingob. I join @FirstLadyNam, her family, and the Namibian people in celebrating @hagegeingob’s life and his legacy promoting development and unity in Africa. May his soul rest in peace”, former President Sirleaf wrote on X.

Hage Gottfried Geingob died in hospital on February 4, weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. 

The burial was on the outskirts of Windhoek after 20 days of mourning. Soldiers gave Geingob a 21-gun salute while K-8 fighter jets flew past.

Geingob, 82, Namibia’s two-time prime minister and third president since its independence from minority-ruled SA in 1990, had been in charge of the sparsely populated and mostly arid southern African nation since 2015. He was serving his final year in office.

A veteran of the country’s independence struggle, Geingob lived in exile for 27 years, spending time in Botswana, Zambia and the US before returning to Namibia in 1989.

He held several senior positions in the government and in his party, South West African People’s Organisation (Swapo), including chairing the body that drafted Namibia’s constitution, considered a model of good governance and the rule of law.

As Namibia’s first prime minister, Geingob is credited for introducing modern management approaches to the running of the government.

“Your impact on us has been profound, your footprint on this nation is immense,” said Nangolo Mbumba, interim president at the funeral. “You leave our country in better shape … You have left us with an economic road map towards prosperity,” he added.

Namibia is considered a middle-income country with abundant diamonds, uranium and lithium reserves needed for electric car batteries.

Recently, the country has made efforts to attract foreign investment in the global green economy by becoming the first African country to agree to supply the EU with green hydrogen and minerals needed for clean energy.

Namibia, a former German colony, is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in November.

Days after the passing the Namibian leader, Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai sent a message of condolence to the government and people of Namibia.

The Liberian leader would go on to congratulate Mr. Nangolo Mbumba upon his ascendency to the office of the President of the Republic of Namibia.

The Liberian leader assured his counterpart of his constant readiness to work with him towards maintaining and consolidating the excellent relations subsisting between the two countries and brotherly peoples. President Boakai then wished the Namibian leader every success in the discharge of his duties and pray that the Grand Architect of the Universe will grant him wisdom and fortitude to lead the great people of Namibia to prosperity and happiness, the Executive Mansion said.