Sam Nujoma | |
|---|---|
_cropped.jpg) Nujoma in 2004 | |
| 1st President of Namibia | |
| In office 21 March 1990 – 21 March 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Hage Geingob (1990–2002) Theo-Ben Gurirab (2002–2005) |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Succeeded by | Hifikepunye Pohamba |
| President of SWAPO | |
| In office 19 April 1960 – 29 November 2007 | |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Succeeded by | Hifikepunye Pohamba |
| President of OPO | |
| In office 19 April 1959 – 19 April 1960 | |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Succeeded by | office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma 12 May 1929 Ongandjera, Ovamboland, South West Africa (now Omusati Region, Namibia) |
| Political party | SWAPO, OPO |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Utoni Daniel (born 1952) John Ndeshipanda (1955-1993) Sakaria Nefungo (born 1957) Nelago (1959–1961) |
| Alma mater | University of Namibia |
| Religion | Lutheran |
| Website | www.samnujomafoundation.org |
Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma,[1] (/nuːˈjoʊmə/; born 12 May 1929) is a Namibian revolutionary, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served three terms as the first President of Namibia, from 1990 to 2005. Nujoma was a founding member and the first president of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in 1960. Before 1960, SWAPO was known as the Ovambo People's Organisation (OPO). He played an important role as leader of the national liberation movement in campaigning for Namibia's political independence from South African rule. He established the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) in 1962 and launched a guerrilla war against the apartheid government of South Africa in August 1966 at Omugulugwombashe, beginning after the United Nations withdrew the mandate for South Africa to govern the territory. Nujoma led SWAPO during the lengthy Namibian War of Independence, which lasted from 1966 to 1989.
Nujoma became involved in anti-colonial politics during the 1950s. In 1959, he co-founded and served as the first president of the Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO), a nationalist organization advocating an independent Namibia. In December 1958 he was an organizer of the Old Location resistance and was arrested and deported to Ovamboland. In 1960 he escaped and went into exile in Tanzania where he was welcomed by Julius Nyerere.
Namibia finally achieved independence from South Africa in 1990, holding its first democratic elections. SWAPO won a majority and Nujoma was elected as the country's first President on 21 March 1990. He was re-elected for two more terms in 1994 and 1999. Nujoma retired as SWAPO party president on 30 November 2007.
He published his autobiography Where Others Wavered in 2005. He has received multiple honors and awards for his leadership, including the Lenin Peace Prize, the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize, and the Ho Chi Minh Peace Prize. The Parliament of Namibia honored him with the titles "Founding President of the Republic of Namibia" and "Father of the Namibian Nation". In 2007 SWAPO named him "Leader of the Namibian Revolution."
- ^ Adeola, Ade (19 January 2016). 2222 Facts About Africa. Ade Adeola. ISBN 978-1-783-01867-3.[permanent dead link]