Namibia's Founding Father Sam Nujoma Dies at 95

The independence leader and first president, revered for guiding Namibia to freedom and stability, passed away after a brief illness.

Sam Nujoma led Namibia's liberation from South African apartheid rule, serving as the country's first president from 1990 to 2005.
He was a key figure in the South West People's Organisation (SWAPO), which spearheaded the independence movement and armed struggle starting in 1966.
Nujoma's leadership was credited with fostering national reconciliation and establishing a democratic constitution after decades of colonial rule.
He was known for his fierce anti-colonial rhetoric, controversial views on homosexuality, and support for Robert Mugabe’s land reforms in Zimbabwe.
Nujoma's legacy includes his role in nation-building, his symbolic presence in Namibia's public spaces, and his continued influence even after retiring from politics in 2007.