Former East Timor President Francisco Guterres Dies at 71

Former East Timor President Francisco Guterres, a key figure in the country's independence movement and widely known by his nom de guerre "Lu Olo," has died at the age of 71. Guterres passed away on Sunday at Prince Court Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he had been receiving intensive care, his family announced on his official Facebook account. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Guterres served as president of Southeast Asia's youngest nation from 2017 to 2022, capping decades of involvement in both the political and armed struggle that led to East Timor's independence in 2002. Born on September 7, 1954, in Ossu, in what was then Portuguese Timor, he rose to prominence as a guerrilla commander in the resistance against Indonesia's occupation from 1975 to 1999. As a senior leader of the Fretilin party, he played a crucial role in the transition to independence following a United Nations-backed referendum in 1999.

After independence, Guterres served as president of the Constituent Assembly in 2001, overseeing the drafting of East Timor's constitution, and became the first speaker of the National Parliament. After several unsuccessful bids, he was elected president in 2017, serving one term before losing a reelection bid in 2022 to current President Jose Ramos-Horta, a fellow independence fighter.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim offered condolences, stating, "Throughout his life, he remained committed to the freedom of his people and the building of a democratic nation." Fretilin described his death as a "profound loss" for all who shared the goal of building a free, democratic, and sovereign country. The party highlighted his lifelong dedication to the independence movement and his role in promoting national unity, dialogue, peace, and political stability.

East Timor's government declared seven days of national mourning, with flags lowered on all public buildings and the country's diplomatic missions abroad. Guterres is survived by his wife, Cidalia Lopes Nobre Mouzinho Guterres, and their children. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced at a later date.