President
Joaquim Chissano succeeded to the presidency in 1986 when Samora Machel's presidential aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain in South Africa.
After the Mozambican Civil War, during which the Renamo rebels become a regular political party, Chissano won multi-party elections in 1994 and again in 1999. In 1999, he defeated the former rebel leader, Afonso Dhlakama, by 52.3% to 47.7%. Chissano served as Chairperson of the African Union from July 2003 to July 2004.
Chissano chose not to run for a third term in the elections of 2004, although the constitution would have allowed him to do so. Frelimo selected Armando Guebuza as its candidate, who defeated Dhlakama by a larger margin of votes than in 1999.
Chissano left office at the end of his term in February 2005.
Read more about this topic: Joaquim Chissano
Famous quotes containing the word president:
““Justice” was done, and the President of the Immortals, in Æschylean phrase, had ended his sport with Tess. And the d’Urberville knights and dames slept on in their tombs unknowing. The two speechless gazers bent themselves down to the earth, as if in prayer, and remained thus a long time, absolutely motionless: the flag continued to wave silently. As soon as they had strength they arose, joined hands again, and went on.
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