Joaquim Chissano

Joaquim Alberto Chissano (born October 22 1939) is the president of Mozambique. Chissano was born in Chibuto village, Gaza province, Mozambique. He was involved in the Frelimo movement in the 1960s, representing the group in Paris and fighting in the guerrilla war against Portugal. In 1975, when the country achieved independence, he gained the rank of major general and was appointed foreign minister of Mozambique, a position in which he served until 1987. He was known as a soft-spoken diplomat who helped reconcile radical and moderate Marxists in the Frelimo party. He has been president of the country since 1986, when Samora Machel died in a plane crash. He won multi-party elections in 1994 and 1999. In 1999 he defeated his opponent, Afonso Dhlakama 52.3%-47.7%. Due to a mass of scams and several cases of corruption Chissano's government has lately been the target of wide criticism. Resulting in FRELIMO selecting Armando Guebuza as their candidate for the presidential elections this year (2004), and greatly increasing the chances for the party staying in office. Chissano was the chairman of the African Union from July 2003 until July 2004.