President Nangolo Mbumba arrived back in Namibia from New York, United States on Saturday, where he participated in the just-ended 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The 79th Session of the UNGA took place from 19 to 26 September 2024 under the theme ‘Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for the present and future generations.’
While at the UNGA, Mbumba co-facilitated the Summit of the Future alongside the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz from 20 to 23 September 2024, which was held under the theme ‘Summit of the Future: multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow’, and adopted the Pact for the Future.
A statement from the Presidency on Saturday indicated that, ahead of the summit, Mbumba held a meeting with Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres on 19 September 2024.
Gutteres lauded President Mbumba for Namibia’s constructive role in bringing the global community together in his exercise in this historic summit that brought world leaders together to chart the way forward.
“President Mbumba emphasised the importance of international financial reforms from which developing countries can benefit. Mbumba and H.E. Guterres further discussed the critical role Namibia has played as a bridge builder and peacemaker in the SADC region,” the statement read.
Mbumba during his working visit also held meetings with the president of the 79th Session of the General Assembly Philemon Yang, Scholz, president of the Republic of Mauritius Prithvirajsingh Roopun, and president Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of the Republic of Angola.
During the 40th Annual Awards Gala of the Africa-America Institute (AAI), which also celebrated the legacy and honoured late president Hage Geingob, Mbumba said when the AAI “Embraced a young freedom fighter, Hage Geingob in the 1960s, the institute built a bridge and ignited a future.”
The head of State also expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of Namibia for remembering an exceptional leader and for memorialising his exemplary life.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi of the Republic of Botswana, president Nana Akufo-Addo of the Republic of Ghana, president Joseph Nyumah Boakai of the Republic of Liberia, ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the USA to the UN, and the Former First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingos, participated in the event.
-Nampa