Outgoing president Hage Geingob died on 4 February 2024 whilst receiving treatment for cancer and was replaced by his vice-president, Nangolo Mbumba.

SWAPO, which gained its base fighting against apartheid in 1990, is seemingly losing support among youth voters, who are dissatisfied with low employment rates.

[8] The President of Namibia is elected using the two-round system; if no candidate receives more than 50% in the first round of voting, a run-off will be held.

[14] These included 2019 presidential candidate Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), the main opposition candidate, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani, former deputy minister Bernadus Swartbooi of the Landless People's Movement (LPM), and former Windhoek mayor Job Amupanda of Affirmative Repositioning (AR).

[15] Following complaints from opposition parties, the ECN announced a further extension of voting hours for 29 and 30 November at 36 selected polling locations in Windhoek as well as in the Kunene, Oshana and Oshikoto regions.

[16][17] Representatives of the IPC, PDM and AR expressed dissatisfaction with the limited selection of polling locations for the voting extension.

[19][20] African Union (AU) election observers criticised the ECN's decision to extend voting for causing confusion.

Election monitors, consisting of southern African human rights lawyers, claimed that delays were intentional.

[32][30][31] Bloomberg identified the result as "broad policy continuity in a nation that's on the verge of becoming a major hydrocarbons producer", noting the recent discovery of offshore deposits in the Orange Basin.

[29][34] Itula criticized the opening of only selective polling stations, which may have prevented thousands of voters from casting their vote.

[30] The Forum of German-Speaking Namibians noted that doubts caused by the extension can lead to governmental distrust, and "it is in the hands of the ECN to avoid this slippery path to chaos and violence.