Sebastian Ndeitunga
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Sebastian Ndeitunga
|image =
|caption =
|office = Governor of Ohangwena Region
|president = Hage Geingob
|deputy =
|term_start = 16 November 2023
|term_end =
|predecessor = Walde Ndevashiya
|successor =
|office1 = Inspector general of the Namibian Police Force
|president1 = Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hage Geingob
|deputy1 =
|term_start1 = 2005
|term_end1 = 2022
|predecessor1 = Lucas Hangula
|successor1 = Joseph Shikongo
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1962}}
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|other_names =
|death_place =
|alma_mater = University of Havana
|nationality = Namibian
|religion =
}}
Lieutenant General (rtd) Sebastian Ndeitunga (nom-de-guerre Haitota) (born 1962) is a Namibian police officer and politician, currently serving as a regional governor of Ohangwena Region. He was inspector general of the Namibian Police Force from 2005 to 2022.
Early life and education
Ndeitunga was born around 1962 in an Angolan village a few kilometres north of the Namibian border. He did not have a birth certificate until 1993 when he made a sworn statement to the Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs.{{cite news | url=http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=124060&page=archive-read | last=Menges | first=Werner | title=Ndeitunga defends his Namibian citizenship | newspaper=The Namibian | date=5 June 2014}} Ndeitunga holds a Bachelor of Laws and a postgraduate certificate in maritime law from the University of Havana in Cuba.{{cn|date=November 2023}}
In 1975 he became a SWAPO member.
Career
In 2005, Ndeitunga was appointed inspector general of the Namibian Police Force by president Hifikepunye Pohamba. He succeeded Lucas Hangula.{{cite news | newspaper=New Era | url=https://www.newera.com.na/2016/09/27/ndeitunga-targets-top-interpol-post/ |title=Ndeitunga targets top Interpol post |date=27 September 2016}} When he retired in August 2022, Ndeitunga was the longest serving police chief since Namibian independence.{{cite news | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/114503/read/Ndeitungas-Final-Salute | last=Shihepo | first=Timo | title=Ndeitunga's Final Salute | newspaper=The Namibian | date=22 July 2022}}{{cite news | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/6221119/archive-read/Race-for-Ndeitungas-successor-heats-up | last=Mongudhi | first=Tileni | title=Race for Ndeitunga's successor heats up | newspaper=The Namibian | date=8 June 2022}} Ndeitunga was also vice president of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) for Africa.{{cite web|url=http://www.interpol.int/About-INTERPOL/Structure-and-governance/Executive-Committee |title=Executive Committee / Structure and governance / About INTERPOL / Internet / Home - INTERPOL |publisher=Interpol.int |date= |accessdate=2016-10-05}}{{cite news | url=https://www.newera.com.na/2016/10/03/ndeitunga-detained-at-frankfurt-airport/ | title=Ndeitunga detained at Frankfurt airport | newspaper=New Era |accessdate=2016-10-05}}{{cite web|author=New Era Publication Corporation |url=https://www.newera.com.na/tag/sebastian-ndeitunga |title=Sebastian Ndeitunga | New Era Newspaper Namibia |publisher=Newera.com.na |date= |accessdate=2016-10-05}}
On 16 November 2023 Ndeitunga was called out of retirement by president Hage Geingob to replace Walde Ndevashiya as governor of Ohangwena Region.{{Cite news | title=Sebastian Ndeitunga appointed Ohangwena Regional Governor | newspaper=Namibia Economist | url=https://economist.com.na/84199/extra/sebastian-ndeitunga-appointed-ohangwena-regional-governor/ | date=15 November 2023 | language=en-ZA}}{{Cite news | title=Northern leaders called for Ndevashiya’s head | newspaper=The Namibian | last1=Ndeyanale | first1=Eliaser | last2=Vatileni | first2=Eino | date=16 November 2023 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/northern-leaders-called-for-ndevashiyas-head}}
Awards and recognition
- Outstanding Meritorious Service of Highest Order, awarded by the President of the Republic of Namibia,
- SARPCCO Medal for distinct service and the International Leadership Award from the United Kingdomhttp://www.nampol.gov.na/campaign
- Most Distinguished Order of Namibia: First Class, conferred on Heroes' Day 2014.{{Cite news
|title=Namibians honoured by President
|newspaper=New Era
|date= 28 August 2014
|url=http://www.newera.com.na/2014/08/28/namibians-honoured-by-president/}}
References
{{reflist}}{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ndeitunga, Sebastian}}
Category:Namibian police officers
Category:21st-century Namibian politicians
{{Namibia-bio-stub}}