Xanana Gusmão

About

José Alexandre “Xanana” Gusmão (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒuˈzɛ ɐlɨˈʃɐ̃dɾɨ ʃɐˈnanɐ ɣuʒˈmɐ̃w]; born 20 June 1946) is an East Timorese politician. He has served as the tenth prime minister of Timor-Leste since 2023, previously serving as the sixth prime minister from 2007 to 2015. A former rebel, he also served as East Timor’s first president since its re-establishment of independence from 2002 to 2007.

== Early life and career ==
Gusmão was born in Laleia, Manatuto, in what was then Portuguese Timor, as the second son in a large family. His parents, both of whom were school teachers, were of mixed Portuguese-Timorese ancestry, and his family were assimilados. He attended a Jesuit school in Dare, just outside Dili, and Dili High School. After leaving high-school for financial reasons at the age of 15 in 1961, he held a variety of unskilled jobs, while continuing his education at night school.
In 1965, aged 19, Gusmão met Emilia Batista, who was later to become his wife. His nickname, “Xanana”, was taken from the name of the American rock and roll band “Sha Na Na”, (which is pronounced the same as “Xanana” which is spelled according to Portuguese and Tetum spelling rules) who in turn…