Namibia’s President Hage Geingob on Friday expressed shock and sadness at the death of Japan’s former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, who was shot twice in the city of Nara on Friday.

Geingob in a media statement said he recalls vividly when he had a one-on-one meeting with Abe during a visit to Yokohama in 2019 at the seventh Tokyo International Conference of the African Development (TICAD7).

Geingob said at that meeting, they reaffirmed each other’s commitment to enhancing the Japan-Namibia bilateral relations.

“Indeed, we will remember Prime Minister Abe as a true friend of Namibia who exuded the characteristics of friendship, solidarity and respect which defines the relationship between Namibia and Japan,” he said.

The president further noted that Namibians will from Friday join the Japanese people in mourning the astute statesman whose presence will be missed in both Japan and the whole world.

“Our thoughts and prayers also go to his dear wife, Madam Akie Abe,” said Geingob.

The 67-year-old former prime minister was assassinated while campaigning for his party on Friday.

A 41-year-old male suspect was arrested on Friday.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency