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PoliticsNamibia

Namibia's President Geingob to undergo cancer treatment

January 19, 2024

President Hage Geingob was diagnosed with cancer earlier this month and will undergo treatment, his office said. He continues to carry on presidential duties.

https://p.dw.com/p/4bTZZ
Hage Gottfried Geingob, President of Namibia, speaks during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, November 2, 2021.
Namibia is set for elections at the end of 2024Image: Hannah McKay/REUTERS

Namibian President Hage Geingob was diagnosed with cancer earlier in the month and will undergo treatment, his office said Friday.

The presidency did not provide details about his condition but stated that he would continue to perform his duties.

"As part of regular annual medical examinations, the Presidency informed the Namibian public that the head of state was due for a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on 8 January 2024, which were followed up with a biopsy, of which the results revealed cancerous cells," the presidency statement said.

"On the advice of the medical team, President Geingob will undertake appropriate medical treatment to deal with the cancerous cells," the statement read.

Geingob, who is 82 years old, told the public in 2014, when he was prime minister, that he had survived prostate cancer. He became president the following year.

Namibia is scheduled to conduct both presidential and parliamentary elections towards the end of 2024.

rm/lo (Reuters, AFP)