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Nangolo Mbumba Sworn In as Namibia’s Interim President


Nangolo Mbumba is sworn in as interim president following the death of Hage Geingob, in Windhoek, Namibia, Feb. 4, 2024
Nangolo Mbumba is sworn in as interim president following the death of Hage Geingob, in Windhoek, Namibia, Feb. 4, 2024

Nangolo Mbumba has been sworn in as the interim president of the southern African country of Namibia.

He was installed Sunday, following the death of President Hage Geingob earlier in the day at a hospital in Windhoek.

Geingob announced in January that he had cancer.

Mbumba said Sunday that he does not plan to run for president in elections later this year.

That means newly-installed Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah could seek the presidential office. If she won, she would be first female president in southern Africa.

However, she may face some challengers from within SWAPO, her political party.

The South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO has been in power in Namibia since it gained independence in 1990.

President Geingob recently upbraided Germany for supporting Israel against genocide charges at the International Court of Justice.

Geingob said Germany committed genocide in Namibia in the 1800s, killing tens of thousands of Africans.

Some information for this report came from Reuters.

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