Sam Nujoma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Sam Nujoma
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 (1929-05-12)12 May 1929 Ovamboland, South West Africa
Died	8 February 2025(2025-02-08) (aged 95) Windhoek, Khomas Region, Namibia
Resting place	Heroes' Acre, Windhoek, Namibia
Political party	SWAPO OPO
Spouse	Kovambo Nujoma ​ (m. 1956)​
Children	4, including Utoni
Alma mater	University of Namibia
Religion	Lutheran
Signature

Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma (born 12 May 1929, died 8 February 2025) was a very important leader from Namibia. He was a revolutionary and worked against apartheid, which was a system of unfair racial separation. Nujoma served as the first president of Namibia for three terms, from 1990 to 2005. He was also a founder and the first president of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) in 1960.

Nujoma started getting involved in politics against colonial rule in the 1950s. In 1959, he helped start the Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO), which wanted an independent Namibia. He was arrested in 1958 for organizing a protest and was sent away. In 1960, he left the country and went to Tanzania, where he was welcomed by Julius Nyerere, another African leader.

Nujoma was key in leading the fight for Namibia's freedom from South African rule. The OPO changed its name to SWAPO in 1960. Nujoma also created the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) in 1962. This group started a guerrilla war against the South African government in August 1966. This happened after the United Nations said South Africa no longer had the right to govern Namibia. Nujoma led SWAPO during the long Namibian War of Independence, which lasted from 1966 to 1989.

Namibia became independent from South Africa in 1990. The country held its first democratic elections that same year. SWAPO won most of the votes, and Nujoma became the first president on 21 March 1990. He was re-elected two more times in 1994 and 1999. Nujoma stepped down as SWAPO party president on 30 November 2007.

Nujoma wrote his life story, Where Others Wavered, in 2001. He received many awards for his leadership, like the Lenin Peace Prize and the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize. The Parliament of Namibia gave him the titles "Founding President of the Republic of Namibia" and "Father of the Namibian Nation". In 2007, SWAPO called him "Leader of the Namibian Revolution".

Early Life and Education

Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma was born on 12 May 1929. His birthplace was Etunda, a village in Ovamboland, which was then called South West Africa. His parents were Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo and Daniel Uutoni Nujoma. Helvi was a princess, which helped Nujoma gain influence later in his political life. He was the oldest of eleven children.

Nujoma spent his early years helping his family. He looked after his younger siblings and helped with farming. His chances for education were limited. He started school at a Finnish missionary school when he was ten. He finished Standard Six, which was the highest level black students could reach then.

In 1946, at age 17, he moved to Walvis Bay to live with his aunt. He got his first job at a store, earning a small salary. Later, he worked at a whaling station. There, he met people from different countries. This helped him learn about world politics.

In 1949, Nujoma moved to Windhoek. He worked as a cleaner for the South African Railways. At the same time, he went to night school to improve his English. He also studied for his Junior Certificate by mail.

Journey to Political Leadership

After World War I, South Africa took control of South West Africa. In 1948, the National Party in South Africa introduced apartheid. This system created strict racial segregation. These laws were also applied to South West Africa.

Nujoma became involved in politics in the early 1950s. He joined trade unions. His experiences at work and learning about independence movements in Africa shaped his views. He was fired from his job in 1957 because of his political activities.

In 1957, a group of Namibians formed the Ovamboland People's Congress (OPC). They were against South African policies, especially the unfair contract labor system. Nujoma became friends with one of the founders, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo. In 1959, Nujoma helped start the Windhoek branch of the OPC. By then, it was renamed the Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO). Nujoma was elected its first president.

He secretly traveled around Namibia, gathering support for OPO. In September 1959, the South West African National Union (SWANU) was formed. This group brought together different anti-colonial groups. Nujoma joined its leadership, representing OPO.

Nujoma pictured in 1979

After a protest in December 1959, Nujoma was arrested. He was accused of organizing the resistance. He was released after a week. The OPO leaders decided Nujoma should go into exile. He would join other Namibians who were asking the UN for help.

In February 1960, Nujoma left Namibia. He traveled through several African countries. He met with leaders like Julius Nyerere of Tanzania. Nyerere helped him get a passport. Nujoma also met other important African nationalist leaders. These meetings influenced his belief in a united Africa.

In April 1960, the OPO changed its name to the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO). This happened in New York, and Nujoma was elected president even though he wasn't there. He arrived in New York in June 1960. He spoke to the United Nations General Assembly Fourth Committee. Nujoma demanded that South West Africa become independent by 1963.

He returned to Tanzania in 1961. From there, he and other activists built SWAPO into a strong international group. He got support from other African leaders, especially Julius Nyerere. Nujoma set up SWAPO's main office in Dar es Salaam. He also arranged for Namibians to get scholarships and military training.

Leading the Fight for Independence

In 1962, SWAPO created its armed group, the South West African Liberation Army (SWALA). This group was later renamed the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). Nujoma himself got the first weapons. They were brought from Algeria through several African countries to Omugulugwombashe in Ovamboland.

Nujoma continued to travel and speak to leaders around the world. SWAPO opened offices in Africa, Europe, and the Americas. He represented SWAPO at the start of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961. He also attended the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. In 1965, the OAU recognized SWAPO as the only true representative of the Namibian people.

On 21 March 1966, Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba tried to return to Namibia. They wanted to test South Africa's claim that Namibians in exile could come back freely. They were arrested at the airport and sent back to Zambia the next day.

On 26 August 1966, the first armed clash happened. SWALA fighters had set up a camp at Omugulugwombashe. South African forces attacked them. This attack marked the beginning of the Namibian War of Independence. The war lasted for more than 25 years.

Günter Sieber (right) greets Nujoma in Berlin, in August 1989.

In 1969, Nujoma was confirmed as SWAPO President at a conference in Tanzania. In 1974, the Portuguese Empire collapsed. This made it easier for guerrilla fighters to cross the border from Angola into Namibia. Nujoma realized this would change the war. Over the next two years, SWAPO's military operations moved their base from Zambia to Angola.

Many SWAPO supporters left Namibia to join the movement in exile. Nujoma's son, Utoni Nujoma, and his two brothers were among them. Nujoma led the SWAPO negotiation team. They talked with a group of Western countries and South Africa. They also talked with African countries about a plan for free elections in Namibia. This plan became United Nations Security Council Resolution 435 in September 1978.

However, it took another ten years for the plan to be put into action. South Africa delayed things. Also, the U.S. linked the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola to Namibia's independence. On 19 March 1989, a cease-fire agreement was signed with South Africa. This led to the start of Resolution 435.

After 29 years away, Nujoma returned to Namibia in September 1989. He led SWAPO to victory in the UN-supervised elections. These elections prepared the way for independence. Nujoma returned just before the UN deadline for Namibians to register to vote. The Constituent Assembly, elected in November 1989, chose him as Namibia's first president. Nujoma was sworn in on 21 March 1990. Important leaders like Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (UN Secretary-General) and Nelson Mandela were there.

President of Namibia: Leading a New Nation

As the head of SWAPO, Nujoma was chosen as president. This happened after SWAPO won the UN-supervised election in 1989. He was sworn in by UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar on 21 March 1990.

When Namibia became independent, it was very divided. This was due to a long history of colonialism and racial discrimination. One of Nujoma's first big achievements was to announce a policy of "national reconciliation." This policy aimed to improve relations between all of Namibia's different racial and ethnic groups.

Under his leadership, Namibia made steady economic progress. The country kept a democratic system. It also respected human rights and followed the rule of law. Nujoma worked to remove the unfairness left by apartheid. He wanted to build a society where everyone was treated equally, regardless of their race.

In 1990, Nujoma started a plan for land reform. This plan aimed to give land from white farmers to black citizens. By 2007, about 12% of the commercial farmland had been given to black citizens.

Nujoma with Shankar Dayal Sharma, President of India, in 1995

Nujoma was re-elected as president in the December 1994 election. He won with 76.3% of the votes. The constitution of Namibia was changed to allow him to run for a third five-year term in 1999. This change was only for Nujoma. He won the 1999 election with 76.8% of the votes.

The constitution did not allow Nujoma to run for a fourth term in 2004. Hifikepunye Pohamba was chosen as the SWAPO candidate for president. Pohamba was seen as Nujoma's chosen successor. Pohamba won the November 2004 election. He was sworn in as the second president of Namibia on 21 March 2005.

Nujoma with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, in 2004

In 1998, Nujoma supported the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Laurent Kabila. Kabila's rule was threatened by rebels. Namibia joined the war to support the DRC's independence. Nujoma saw this as defending the DRC's right to govern itself.

Nujoma was a strong supporter of the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. He also supported the rights of women and children. He called for fathers to support their children. He also opposed the practice of removing widows from their family homes.

In 2000, Nujoma co-chaired the United Nations' Millennium Summit. This meeting led to the creation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These goals aimed to improve global development.

Nujoma played a key role in dealing with Namibia’s HIV/AIDS crisis. He worked to raise awareness and develop policies. Under his leadership, Namibia created its first National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS. This plan included ways to prevent, treat, and care for people with HIV. His government worked with groups like the WHO and UNAIDS. They secured money and support for HIV programs. They also slowly expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for treatment.

Life After Presidency

Nujoma meets with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Windhoek on 25 June 2009.

Nujoma with awarded athletes Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma and their coach Henk Botha in Walvis Bay on 24 November 2021

Even after stepping down as president, Nujoma remained active in politics. He often campaigned for SWAPO at rallies. In 2009, Nujoma earned a master's degree in geology from the University of Namibia.

After leaving the presidency, Nujoma lived on his private farm near Otavi. He also stayed at a SWAPO-owned property outside Windhoek. In 2015, the government gave him an official residence.

Personal Life and Family

Nujoma married Kovambo Theopoldine Katjimune on 6 May 1956. They had three sons and one daughter. Their children were Utoni Daniel (born 1952), John Ndeshipanda (1955–1993), Sakaria "Zacky" Nujoma (born 1957), and Nelago Nujoma (born 1959). Sadly, Nelago died at 18 months old while Nujoma was in exile. His wife joined him abroad two decades later. Nujoma's oldest son, Utoni, is a high-ranking politician in SWAPO. He has served in the government and the National Assembly.

Nujoma's father, Daniel Uutoni Nujoma, was arrested in 1966. He died in prison in 1968. Nujoma's mother, Kuku Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo, passed away in November 2008. She was reportedly over 100 years old.

Nujoma's autobiography, Where Others Wavered, was published in 2001.

Passing and Legacy

Nujoma made his last public appearance at the funeral of President Hage Geingob in February 2024. In July 2024, Nujoma was hospitalized in Windhoek due to illness. He had been ill the month before and missed a public event.

Sam Nujoma died on 8 February 2025, at a hospital in Windhoek. He was 95 years old. The Namibian government announced a period of national mourning. Nujoma's remains were transported to several regions in Namibia. A memorial service was held at Independence Stadium on 28 February 2025. Nujoma was buried on 1 March 2025 at Heroes' Acre.

The African National Congress in South Africa lowered its party flags to half-mast to mourn Nujoma. Cuba declared three days of national mourning for him.

Statue of Nujoma at the Independence Memorial Museum, Windhoek

In December 2005, an act of parliament gave former president Nujoma the title "Founding Father of the Namibian Nation." Since 2012, his picture has appeared on some of the country's banknotes.

Nujoma was known as a "charismatic" and "fiery" leader. He was highly respected in Namibia for leading the country to independence. He also guided it towards democracy and stability. The National Assembly said his work helped create a constitutional democracy. This democracy was based on freedom, unity, and prosperity.

The Namibian newspaper described him as "the last of his generation of African liberation struggle leaders." They placed him alongside figures like Nelson Mandela and Julius Nyerere. Another article in the same paper listed "Ten reasons to be thankful to Sam Nujoma." These reasons included his tireless work for independence. They also mentioned his practical approach in government. This helped the country avoid difficult situations. His "One Namibia, One Nation" approach rejected tribalism. His decision to step down after three terms was also highlighted.

Honors and Awards

Honorary University Degrees

See also

In Spanish: Sam Nujoma para niños

• History of Namibia
• Aaron Mushimba, brother-in-law and prominent businessperson
• Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, co-founder of both OPO and SWAPO

In Books and Film

• Sam Nujoma, Where Others Wavered, The Autobiography of Sam Nujoma, London 2001
• Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation, an epic film by Charles Burnett, showing the Namibian independence movement through Nujoma's eyes.