Namibian President Hage Geingob died on Sunday while receiving medical treatment, his office announced.

In a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the Namibian presidency said Mr Geingob’s medical team at Lady Pohamba Hospital did its best to help him, but Mr Geingob died with his wife, Monica Geingos, and children by his side.

Mr Geingob was undergoing treatment for cancer. The 82-year-old had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on January 8, followed by a biopsy, his office said last month.

Announcement of the Passing of H.E Dr @hagegeingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, 04 February 2024

Fellow Namibians,

It is with utmost sadness and regret that I inform you that our beloved Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the President of the Republic of Namibia has passed on… pic.twitter.com/Qb2t6M5nHi

— Namibian Presidency (@NamPresidency) February 4, 2024

Angolo Mbumba, Namibia’s acting president, called for calm, saying in the same post that the “Cabinet will convene with immediate effect in order to make the necessary state arrangements in this regard”.

Mr Geingob, who was president of the southern African nation since 2015, was set to finish his second and final term in office this year.

In 2014, he said he had survived prostate cancer.

Namibia is set to hold elections to choose a new leader in November.