I
ndian Parliament, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Monday (Feb 5, 2024) condoled the passing away of Namibia’s President Dr Hage G Geingob.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar condoling the demise of Namibian President Geingob stated that both houses of Parliament expressed condolences on the passing away of the African country’s third president since it gained independence in 1990.
He wrote on `X’: “Both Houses of Parliament today expressed condolences on the passing away of Dr Hage G Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia.”
The minister said that the Namibian leader was a dear friend to India, whose contribution to building a deeper India-Namibia, India-Africa relationship will always be remembered.
“A dear friend of India, his contribution to a deeper India-Namibia and India-Africa relationship will always be remembered,” Jaishankar said.
The Namibian leader passed away at the age of 82 on Sunday at Lady Pohamba Hospital in the capital Windhoek, a month after it was announced he would undergo cancer treatment.
Namibia, a former German colony that achieved independence from South Africa in 1990, is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in November.
India-Namibia
India and Namibia enjoy warm and cordial relations. Indian support during their liberation struggle is warmly recalled by Namibian leaders. India was at the forefront of the liberation struggle of Namibia and among the first nations to raise the question of Namibian independence at the UN in 1946. The first SWAPO Embassy anywhere in the world was established in New Delhi in May 1986, inaugurated by Dr Sam Nujoma [President Dr Hage Geingob was also present at the inauguration].
Diplomatic relations with independent Namibia were established right from the moment of its independence, with the Indian Observer Mission being upgraded to a full-fledged High Commission on 21 March 1990 [Namibian Independence Day]. Namibia opened a full-fledged resident Mission in New Delhi in March 1994. Since Namibian independence, bilateral relations, including political, have been active, marked by warmth and understanding. India’s continued commitment to Namibian reconstruction has been very much evident and appreciated. Dr Sam Nujoma (recipient of Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 1990), who later became the first President of independent Namibia Visited India over 16 times.
Bilateral, political interactions between the two countries have been at the highest levels and the two countries have worked closely in the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Commonwealth, Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU) and IPU fora.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Namibia Dr Hage Geingob met on the sidelines of UNGA in New York on 23 September 2019. EAM also met the President of Namibia Dr. Hage Geingob and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations during the JMC meeting held on 05th June 2023 in Windhoek. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for International Relations and Cooperation visited India on 17-21 July 2022 to attend the 17th CII EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Growth Partnership, and to hold bilateral talks between India and Namibia.
Bilateral Trade
The volume of trade between India and Namibia stands at USD 240 Million, several Indian companies have invested in Namibia in mining, manufacturing and service sectors. India has close ties with Namibia in defence, health, energy and agriculture. India provides numerous opportunities of capacity building to Namibians through scholarship programmes under ITEC, ICCR and other capacity building schemes.
India’s historic Cheetah relocation project was supported by the Namibian Government, with a gift of 8 cheetahs to India, that were received by PM Modi and released in Kuno Wikldlife sanctuary in September 2022.
Maritime Security
With its strategic coastal location, Namibia plays a crucial role in ensuring maritime security in the region. India, as a rising global maritime power, values collaboration with Namibia to maintain stability, combat piracy, and safeguard trade routes in the Indian Ocean.