He died at Lady Pohamba Hospital with wife and children by his side. First elected President in 2014, Geingob was Namibia’s longest serving Prime Minister and third President. In 2013, Geingob underwent brain surgery, and last year he underwent an aortic operation in neighbouring South Africa.
The 82-year-old president who also served for 12 years as Prime Minister, had a history of health problems that preceded his election as Namibia’s third president in 2014.
*John Magufuli – Tanzania’s President John Magufuli died at 61 from a heart disease that had plagued him for a decade.
He was Tanzania’s first president to die while in office.
*Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi – (2020) – Pierre was President of Burundi for 15 years and had no plans of stepping down.However, he died when his successor, Evariste Ndayishimiye, was about to be sworn into office. He came into office at 40 and bowed out at 55 years.
Nkurunzinza suddenly passed on of a heart attack in June 2020.
*Michael Sata (2014) – Michael Sata died at 77 of an undisclosed illness in the United Kingdom on October 28th, 2014.After his election in 2011, rumors about his failing health spread across Zambia.
His continuous absence at major state functions raised concerns about his well-being.
*Meles Zenawi (2012) – The former Prime Minister of Ethiopia died in August of 2012 in Belgium at 57 of an undisclosed infection.He led Ethiopia for a total of 21 years as President from 1991 to 1995 and as Prime Minister from 1995 to 2012.
He was known for introducing multi-party democracy.
*John Atta Mills (2012) – Atta Mills died in his home country of stroke and throat cancer at 68.
He won the presidential election in 2008 and was in office for only three years.
*Bingu wa Mutharika (2012) – Another President to die in 2012 is Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi. He suffered a heart attack in April and died two days later at 78.His tenure was eight years long and he achieved broad success with his food and agricultural policies.
*Malam Bacai Sanha (2012) Former President of Guinea-Bissau. – In 2012 Malam Bacai Sanha suffered from diabetes and died in Paris after four years as President at 64.Throughout his time in office, he suffered from several health complications and was continually in and out of the hospital.
*Moammar Gadhafi (2011) – A victim of assassination, Gadhafi was killed at 69 by rebel forces in unclear circumstances in Libya after being its leader for 42 years.
He seized power from the Libyan monarchy following a blood less military coup in 1969 but his leadership came to an end in the aftermath of the “Arab spring” revolution.
*Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2010) – Yar’Adua died at 58 from pericarditis in Nigeria. He had been in office for only three years.
His campaign was punctuated by the absence of the candidate on complete with reports of health-related complications.After his election in April 2007, Yar’Adua’s health deteriorated quickly.
*Joao Bernardo Vieira (2009)– The President of Guinea-Bissau was assassinated in March 2009 at 69. He was the head of state for a combined 31 years.
In 1978, he became Prime Minister and seized power in 1980 and ruled for 19 years. He morphed into a civilian president and led for another four-year period. In 2005, Vieira won another round of presidential elections.
*Omar Bongo (2009) – Advanced intestinal cancer killed Omar Bongo in June 2009 in Barcelona, Spain, after being in office for 42 consecutive years in Gabon. He died at 72 and was one of the longest-serving rulers in history.
THE NATION
