Who we are...

Joaquim Chissano

His Excellency, Mr. Joaquim Alberto Chissano, is the former President of the Republic of Mozambique and vice chairman of the Champions for an HIV-Free Generation.

In 1962, Mr. Chissano became a founding member of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) and played a fundamental role in the 1974 negotiations on the independence of Mozambique. When Mozambique gained independence on 25 June 1975, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. With the tragic death of President Samora Machel in 1986, Chissano was elected as his successor.  He led positive socio-economic reforms, culminating with the adoption of the 1990 constitution that led Mozambique to the multi-party system and to an open market.

Mr. Chissano also led successful negotiations with former rebels, ending 16 years of a destabilizing war in 1992.  In 1994, he won the first multiparty elections in the history of his country, and was re-elected in 1999. He has been praised for Mozambique's economic progress, poverty reduction programmes, infrastructure development and his work to tackle HIV/Aids

Mr. Chissano has won numerous awards, including the 2007 Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. He serves as chairperson of the African Union and the Chissano Foundation. He has been appointed Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the 2005 Summit to Review the Implementation of the Millennium Declaration, as well as Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Guinea-Bissau, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.