DILI — Former Timor-Leste President Francisco Guterres, widely known by his resistance name “Lu Olo,” has passed away on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at the Prince Court Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, following intensive medical treatment. He was 71.
The announcement was officially made by the Guterres family in a statement issued late Sunday evening.
“With deep sorrow and profound pain, the family informs that His Excellency the President of FRETILIN, former President of RDTL, President of the Constituent Assembly, and former President of the National Parliament, Dr. Francisco Guterres Lu Olo, passed away today,” the family statement read.
Guterres was a prominent statesman and a foundational figure in Timor-Leste’s modern political history. Born on September 7, 1954, in Ossu, Viqueque, he served as a guerrilla commander for the Armed Forces for the National Liberation of East Timor (FALINTIL) during the 24-year resistance period before Timor-Leste achieved independence.
Following the restoration of independence in 2002, Guterres transitioned into civil governance. He served as the President of the Constituent Assembly (2001–2002) which drafted the nation’s first Constitution, and subsequently became the first Speaker of the National Parliament (2002–2007). He also maintained a long-standing tenure as the President of the FRETILIN party since 2001.
Guterres served as the 6th President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste from May 20, 2017, to May 20, 2022, steering the country through critical legislative and political periods.
The Guterres family has requested privacy during this difficult time, noting that details regarding the state funeral services will be announced in due course.(TTN)
