Joaquim Chissano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joaquim Alberto Chissano
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Chissano in 2004
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| 2nd President of Mozambique | |
| In office 6 November 1986 – 2 February 2005 |
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| 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 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Pascoal Mocumbi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 October 1939 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. He was the second President of Mozambique, serving from 1986 to 2005. Many people believe he helped change Mozambique from a country affected by war into a successful democracy in Africa. After his time as president, Chissano became an important older leader, working as an envoy and diplomat for his country and the United Nations. He also led the African Union from 2003 to 2004.
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Early life and education
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Joaquim Chissano was born in Malehice, a small village in the Gaza Province of what was then the Portuguese colony of Mozambique. He was the first black student to attend the only high school in the colony, called Liceu Salazar, in Lourenço Marques (now Maputo).
After high school, he went to Portugal to study medicine at the University of Lisbon. However, his strong political beliefs caused problems, so he moved to France. There, he continued his studies at the University of Poitiers. In 1962, he went to Tanzania and joined a political movement that led to the creation of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO). A year later, he stopped his studies to focus on the fight for Mozambique's independence.
Political career
Chissano was one of the people who helped start the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO). This group wanted Mozambique to be independent from Portugal. Later, Chissano played a key role in the Lusaka Accord of 1974. This agreement helped Mozambique gain its independence in 1975. The first President of Mozambique, Samora Machel, then made Chissano the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
President of Mozambique
Chissano became president and leader of the FRELIMO party in 1986. This happened after President Samora Machel's plane crashed in South Africa. Chissano helped end the Mozambican Civil War in 1992. He did this by negotiating a peace treaty with the rebel forces. This treaty promised that no one would be punished for their actions during the war. It also gave the rebels 50% of the positions in the Mozambican army. The Renamo rebels later formed their own political party.
In 1992, Chissano learned a meditation technique called Transcendental Meditation. He then shared it with other government officials and their families. Two years later, Chissano and his generals asked all police and military members to meditate twice a day. About 16,000 soldiers and 30,000 civilians learned this technique. According to reports, Chissano said it brought "political peace and balance in nature" to his country. The defense minister in 2001, Tobias Dai, said the results were "overwhelming." These results included less crime, avoiding drought, and much higher economic growth than expected.
Chissano was reelected president in 1994 and again in 1999. He won against the former rebel leader, Afonso Dhlakama. After winning reelection, Chissano's main goal was to reduce poverty. However, his efforts faced challenges, like a severe flood in 2000. Still, Chissano was very important in convincing the G8 group of countries to cancel £22 billion of Mozambique's debt in 2005.
Chissano decided not to run for a third term in the 2004 elections, even though the constitution would have allowed it. During his time as president, almost 3 million people, about 15% of the country's population, were lifted out of "extreme poverty." The country's economy grew by eight percent each year. Also, the number of children under five who died decreased by 35%. Primary school attendance increased by 65%.
After the presidency
After leaving the presidency, Chissano became an important older leader. He has worked for peace as an envoy and peace negotiator for the United Nations. Chissano was the leader of the African Union from July 2003 to July 2004.
In 2006, the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan asked Chissano to be a Special Envoy. His job was to help solve conflicts in Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan. In 2007, on his 68th birthday, Chissano received the first Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. This award was given by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and was worth $5 million. Chissano was not at the award ceremony because he was still working on his United Nations mission in southern Sudan. The judges of the award said that Chissano's choice not to seek a third presidential term showed that Mozambique's democracy was strong. It also showed that institutions and the democratic process were more important than any single person.
In 2010, Chissano wrote an article for The Huffington Post about the problem of water scarcity in Africa. He is also a member of the honour committee for the Fondation Chirac. He is an independent director at Harmony Gold Mining, a South African gold mining company. He is also an important member of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation.
In 2014, Chissano spoke out in favor of LGBT rights in Africa. On July 3, 2023, he was named Honorary President of a new group called the International Association of Friends of the Algerian Revolution. This group aims to promote the ideas of the Algerian Revolution and support people in colonized countries.
Awards and recognition
- On 9 December 2004, he received the Order of the Athir, a high honor from Algeria.
- In February 2005, he received an Honoris Causa degree from the University of Minho in Portugal. The university gave him this award for his work as President and for his role in bringing peace to Mozambique.
- In 2006, he received the Chatham House Prize.
- In 2007, Kofi Annan announced that Chissano won the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. He received this award for bringing peace, reconciliation, stable democracy, and economic progress to Mozambique after a 16-year civil war. The prize also recognized his important work outside his own country.
- He leads the Joaquim Chissano Foundation and the Forum of Former African Heads of State and Government.
- On 24 May 2011, he received a doctor 'honoris causa' degree in Literature and Philosophy from UNISA. This was for his "political and diplomatic work developed in the last five decades."
Personal life
Chissano is married to Marcelina Rafael Chissano. They have four children. He speaks Portuguese, French, English, and Swahili fluently. He also speaks Changana.
See also
In Spanish: Joaquim Chissano para niños
