José “Pepe” Mujica, a former guerrilla fighter turned president of Uruguay, passed away on May 13 at the age of 89.

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our comrade Pepe Mujica,” Uruguay’s President Yamandú Orsi wrote on X.

Known for his candid wisdom, Mujica was a revered figure in the nation and beyond, remembered for his humble lifestyle and transformative political career. 

A key member of the left-wing Broad Front, Mujica served as president from March 1, 2010, to February 28, 2015, after a life marked by his involvement in the Tupamaro urban guerrilla movement, imprisonment, and eventual political ascent.

In his final public appearance in early 2025, Mujica, suffering from advanced esophageal cancer, bid farewell to his public life, requesting privacy as he neared the end of his battle. 

"My cycle is over, honestly, I’m dying," he said in an interview, expressing a wish for rest after decades of activism. His farewell from public life followed an iconic presidential exit in 2015, where he declared, “I’m not leaving, I’m arriving," symbolising his deep commitment to the people he served.

Mujica's presidency was marked by progressive reforms, including the liberalisation of cannabis production, the legalisation of abortion, and the legalisation of same-sex marriage. 

His government also took significant steps toward historical justice, including a public apology for the forced disappearance of María Claudia Iruretagoyena, the daughter-in-law of poet Juan Gelman, in line with an Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling.

Born in 1935 in a working-class area of Montevideo, Mujica became politically active at a young age, joining the Tupamaros and later becoming a central figure in Uruguay's struggle for democracy. Despite enduring years of torture and imprisonment following the 1973 coup, Mujica emerged as a champion of peace, reconciliation, and social progress.

His post-presidency years saw him continue his activism and offer witty reflections on the state of Latin America. 

Known for his humility, he famously donated nearly 90% of his presidential salary to charity and chose to live on a modest farm outside Montevideo.