MONROVIA: Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is in Namibia on a condolence visit with respect to the death of the former President of the country, Hage Geingob who died on Sunday, February 4, 2024 while receiving medical treatment at a local hospital in the capital, Windhoek.
According to a report monitored by The Analyst, Geingob who died at 82 had been diagnosed with cancer and publicly revealed the details in January this year.
Madam Sirleaf who was received on arrival by government officials visited the home of the former leader where she consoled the widow, former First Lady, Monica Geingos and her children and then signed the Book of Condolence.
News accounts from Windhoek have described the late Geingos as a veteran of the liberation war with the defunct South West African People’s Organization(SWAPO) alongside with the first President of the country, Sam Nujoma, against colonial rule.
Although Madam Sirleaf’s visit to Namibia is on a mournful occasion, it also underscores the long standing relationship that has been existing between Liberia and Namibia where Liberia along with Ethiopia pioneered the independence of the country, a struggle that lasted for years until independence was finally granted in 1994.
It is on record that Liberia and Ethiopia filed a case with the International Court in The Hague challenging the validity of apartheid South Africa to rule the then South West Africa which was renamed Namibia.
In November, 2009, a former President of Namibia, Hifikepunye Pohama paid a 3 day state visit to Liberia at which time both leaders expressed strong commitment to promote good governance and combat corruption that is obstructing the development of the continent.
Former Minister of Information, Lawrence Bropleh at the time said the former Namibian leader’s visit is part of the strong bilateral relations that the two countries have enjoyed over the years
“Liberia played a pivotal role in the struggle in the part of southwest Africa during the days when Sam Nujoma and others were fighting for liberation, the SWAPO (Southwest African People’s Organization). And so now is the time, with President Sirleaf in office, they want to make sure that these relationships will be stronger,” he said.
During the visit the former Namibian leader addressed the joint session of the national legislature and also visited the facilities of the Firestone Rubber Plantation in Harbel, Margibi County.