Joaquim Alberto Chissano | |
|---|---|
 Chissano in 2004 | |
| 2ndPresident of Mozambique | |
| In office 6 November 1986 – 2 February 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Mário da Graça Machungo Pascoal Mocumbi Luísa Diogo |
| Preceded by | Samora Machel |
| Succeeded by | Armando Guebuza |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 25 June 1975 – 19 October 1986 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Pascoal Mocumbi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1939-10-22)22 October 1939 (age 86) Malehice,Gaza Province,Portuguese Mozambique |
| Political party | FRELIMO |
| Spouse | Marcelina Rafael Chissano |
| Children | 4 |
Joaquim Alberto Chissano (born 22 October 1939) is a Mozambican politician who served as the secondPresident of Mozambique, from 1986 to 2005. He is credited with transforming the war-torn country of Mozambique into a successful African democracy.[1] After his presidency, Chissano became an elder statesman, envoy and diplomat for both his home country and the United Nations. Chissano also served asChairperson of the African Union from 2003 to 2004.
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Joaquim Chissano was born in the remote village of Malehice,Chibuto district,Gaza Province of thePortuguese colony of Mozambique (then calledPortuguese East Africa). Chissano was the firstblack student to attend the only high school in the colony,LiceuSalazar in Lourenço Marques (present-dayMaputo).[1] After leaving secondary school, he went to Portugal to study medicine[1] at theFaculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon.[citation needed] However, his political leanings caused him problems and he moved to France where he continued his studies at theUniversity of Poitiers. In 1962, he went toTanzania where he participated on the political movement that resulted in the foundation of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) and a year later he abandoned his studies to move toTanzania in order to serve on the fight for the independence ofMozambique.[1]
Chissano became "one of the founding members" of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), which demanded autonomy fromPortugal.[1] Later, Chissano played a fundamental role in the negotiation of theLusaka Accord of 1974, which paved the way for the country's independence in 1975.[1] The new President of Mozambique,Samora Machel, appointed him asMinister of Foreign Affairs.[1]
Chissano succeeded to the presidency and became FRELIMO party leader in 1986 when Samora Machel's presidential aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain in South Africa.[2][3] Chissano ended theMozambican Civil War in 1992 by negotiating apeace treaty with the rebel forces that "promised no prosecutions or punishments" and gave them 50% of the positions in the Mozambican army.[4] TheRenamo rebels later established their own political party.[citation needed]
In 1992, Chissano learned theTranscendental Meditation technique and introduced it to other government officials and their families.[5] Two years later, Chissano and his generals ordered all police and military to "meditate twice a day for 20 minutes."[6] In addition, 16,000 soldiers and 30,000 civilians were taught Transcendental Meditation and its advancedTM-Sidhi Program including Yogic Flying. According to Transcendental Meditation literature, Chissano said the result was "political peace and balance in nature in my country."[6] According to Tobias Dai, the 2001 defence minister, "the effect was overwhelming" and included reduced crime, drought aversion and three times the expected level of economic growth.[6] In 1993 Chissano received an honorary degree from Maharishi Vedic University inMERU, Holland[7] and in 1994 negotiated an agreement withMaharishi Heaven on Earth Development for the agricultural development of 20 million hectares (49,000,000 acres) of "unused land"[8] beginning with 2.5 million acres of timber, cotton and fruit.[5] The 50-year contract promised 20% to 40% of the profits for the Mozambique government[5][9] but other government officials refused the deal.[10]
Chissano was reelected to the presidency in 1994 (53.3% of votes) and again in 1999 (52.9% votes), when he defeated the former rebel leader,Afonso Dhlakama.[1] After winning re-election Chissano's priority became poverty eradication but his efforts were complicated by asevere flood in 2000.[1] However, Chissano had a fundamental role in convincing theG8 to write off £22 billion of Mozambique's debt in 2005.[1] Chissano chose not to run for a third term in the elections of 2004, although the constitution would have allowed him to do so.[4] During Chissano's presidency, almost 3 million people, about 15% of the country's citizens, were removed from "extreme poverty"[4] and the country achieved an economic growth rate of eight percent.[1] In addition, child mortality rates for children under age five decreased by 35% and there was a 65% increase in primary school attendance.[4]
Since leaving the presidency Chissano has assumed the role of elder statesman and has campaigned for peace through his work as an envoy and peace negotiator for the United Nations.[4] Chissano served asChairperson of the African Union from July 2003 to July 2004.[citation needed] On 4 December 2006, theUnited Nations Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan appointed Chissano theSpecial Envoy of the Secretary-General to Northern Uganda andSouthern Sudan, to resolve the conflict with theLord's Resistance Army (LRA). On Chissano's 68th birthday in 2007, he was awarded the inaugural$5 millionPrize for Achievement in African Leadership awarded by theMo Ibrahim Foundation.[4][11][12] Chissano was absent from the award ceremony because he was still working on his United Nations mission in southern Sudan.[1] According to the award's judges "Mr Chissano's decision not to seek a third presidential term reinforced Mozambique's democratic maturity and demonstrated that institutions and the democratic process were more important than the person".[1]
In 2010, Chissano wrote an article forThe Huffington Post aboutwater scarcity in Africa.[13] Chissano is a member of theFondation Chirac's honour committee.[14] He is also an independent non-executive director atHarmony Gold Mining, a South African underground and surface gold mining company,[15] as well as an Eminent Member of theSergio Vieira de Mello Foundation.[citation needed]
In 2014, Chissano has spoken out in favor ofLGBT rights in Africa.[16]
On July 3, 2023, he was appointed Honorary President of the new International Association of Friends of theAlgerian Revolution. This organization aims to promote the principles of the Algerian Revolution and provide support to colonized peoples.[17]
Chissano is married to Marcelina Rafael Chissano. He is the father of four children and his son received a scholarship toMaharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa.[21] Chissano has been criticized for his continued friendship with Zimbabwean PresidentRobert Mugabe and there have been allegations that Chissano's sonNyimpine Chissano (who died in 2007) promised payment for the assassination of journalistCarlos Cardoso.[1]
Chissano speaks fluentPortuguese,French,English, andSwahili. He speaksChangana as well.[22][23]
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of Mozambique 1986–2005 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chairperson of the African Union 2003–2004 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by New post | Special Envoy of the Secretary-General forLRA-affected areas 2007–present day | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Awards and achievements | ||
| Preceded by New award | Prize for Achievement in African Leadership 2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chatham House Prize 2006 | Succeeded by |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |
