The United Nations Secretary-General paid tribute to late president Hage Geingob during the UN General Assembly’s 55th plenary meeting’s 78th session on Wednesday, 7 February 2024. The 82-year-old Head of State died in hospital in the early hours of Sunday, 4 February, weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer. Antonio Guterres called Geingob a respected and principled statesman, who dedicated his life to serving and developing his country. The UN chief called Geingob a prominent anti-apartheid activist and pioneer of Africa’s green energy transformation. Guterres sent his condolences to Geingob’s family, and the government and people of Namibia. The UN General Assembly paid tribute to Geingob, a former UN employee, which is the tradition when a sitting Head of State passes away.