Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s first democratically elected president and independence leader, passed away at age 95 on February 8, 2025. A guerrilla leader and activist, he led SWAPO and played a key role in Namibia’s liberation from apartheid South Africa, becoming president on March 21, 1990.
Recognized as the “Founding Father of the Namibian Nation”, Nujoma promoted national reconciliation and democratic institutions but faced criticism for media suppression, opposition to homosexuality, and a constitutional amendment enabling his third term.
His presidency (1990-2005) shaped Namibia’s post-independence governance, though autocratic tendencies and suppression of the 1999 Caprivi rebellion tainted his legacy. A longtime ally of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, he backed land reforms in Zimbabwe while adopting a “willing buyer, willing seller” approach at home.
Born in 1929, Nujoma fought apartheid, led a guerrilla war, and petitioned the United Nations for independence. SWAPO won the 1989 elections, making him president in 1990. His leadership laid the foundation for Namibia’s stability and regional partnerships.
