Namibian President Hage Geingob was interred at the Heroes’ Acre cemetery in the aftermath of a state funeral on Sunday, attended by African leaders, the German president, and Princess Anne, the sister of Britain’s King Charles III.
Geingob, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 82 earlier this month, served as Namibia’s third president since gaining independence in 1990. Formerly a German colony, Namibia transitioned from apartheid South African rule to become one of Africa’s most stable democracies under Geingob’s leadership.
His widow, Monica Geingos, delivered a heartfelt message at the memorial service, highlighting her husband’s journey from humble rural beginnings to becoming a respected African leader.
The funeral drew representatives from 27 countries, including notable figures such as Princess Anne, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Qatar President Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Steinmeier expressed Germany’s intention to formally apologize to Namibia for the 1904-1908 genocide and acknowledged Geingob’s advocacy for reparations, an offer rejected by Namibian Parliament and affected communities in 2021.
Geingob’s final resting place will be in one of the mausoleums at Heroes’ Acre designated for national heroes. Having played a pivotal role in Namibia’s political landscape, Geingob served as the country’s first prime minister and later as president since 2015, with his second term set to conclude this year.
Following Geingob’s passing, Vice President Nangolo Mbumba assumed the role of acting president, completing the term as allowed by the constitution. Namibia is slated to elect a new president in November.
