Jose Mujica, Guerrilla Who Became Uruguay President, Dies at 89

Jose “Pepe” Mujica, the former left-wing guerrilla who spent more than a decade in prison before becoming president of Uruguay and making it the first country in the world to legalize cannabis, has died. He was 89.

He died on Tuesday, CNN Brasil reported. President Yamandu Orsi confirmed Mujica’s death on social media, writing, “Thank you for everything you gave us and for your profound love for your people.” Diagnosed with esophageal cancer in April 2024, Mujica had said he was ceasing treatment after it spread to his liver, the weekly newspaper Busqueda reported on Jan. 9.