Namibia's president has said that Hage Geingob will return to serve as the nation's prime minister as part of a major cabinet reshuffle in the southern Africa nation.

The Namibian Press Agency said President Hifikepunye Pohamba made the announcement Tuesday during a hastily called news conference in the capital Windhoek. Geingob is part of the ruling party South West African People's Organization, a former guerrilla movement known as SWAPO.

Geingob's elevation comes after he was confirmed Sunday as SWAPO's vice president. That puts him in a strong position to become SWAPO's presidential candidate in the nation's coming 2014 election.

Geingob previously served as Namibia's first prime minister from 1990 to 2002. Namibia gained its independence and a majority-rule government in 1990.