Choummaly Sayasone (March 6, 1936) was the general secretary and president of Laos from 2006 to 2016. He served as Minister of Defense from 1991-2001 and became vice president from 2001-2006, where he was elected to leadership position by the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. He was re-elected again 2011, but he stopped seeking election and effectively retired in 2016.
Under his rule, the Laotian government perpetrated heavy restrictions of freedom of speech, expression and religion, forced disappearances (notably that of Sombath Somphone), attacks on civilians by military officials, abuse/torture of prisoners and dissidents, and with rape and murder by Lao People's Army. The U.S. Department of State reported that "The government's overall human rights record worsened during the year" during Choummaly's first year of presidency.