Namibia's President Hage Geingob has died at the age of 82.
Vice President Nangolo Mbumba announced Geingob's death in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“By his side were his dear wife, Madame Monica Geingos, and his children,” Mbumba said in a statement.
He had been diagnosed with cancer and publicly revealed his diagnosis last month.
His office announced that he would travel to the United States to receive treatment, but would return to it Namibia On February 2nd.
Mr. Geingob became President in 2015 and was serving his second and final term in office.
He underwent aortic surgery last year, and revealed in 2014 that he had survived prostate cancer.
Born in 1941, Geingob was a prominent politician before Namibia gained independence from the apartheid regime in South Africa in 1990.
He headed the body that drafted the country's constitution, then became its first prime minister upon independence on March 21 of that year, a position he held until 2002.
Namibia is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections next November.
The ruling party, the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO), which has been in power since Namibia gained independence, has selected Ms Nandi Ndayetwah as its presidential candidate.
She is also currently Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia, and would become the country's first female president if she wins.
