Mariano Assanami Sabino was born on April 12th, 1971, in Lautém, and currently holds the position of Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing in the 9th Constitutional Government. In 1991, during his studies at the University of Brawijaya Malang in Indonesia, he joined the National Resistance of Timorese Students (RENETIL), where he held various positions, including Deputy Secretary General. He was involved in various activities of this organization, including the embassy occupations in Jakarta in 1995 and the demonstrations in 1998. He was also a member and leader of the Indonesian-Timorese student organization Ikatan Mahasiswa dan Pelajar Timor Timur (IMPETTU). After returning to Timor-Leste in 1999, he joined the Planning and Coordination Commission of the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT) Campaign as head of the mobilization department for the participation of all Timorese in the Referendum. In 1999, he was one of the founders and co-coordinator of the Presidium Juventude Loriko Aswa’in” (PJLA). In 2001, he became a founding member of the Democratic Party (PD). He was a member of the National Parliament in the 1st and 5th Legislatures, was a member of the 4th, 5th and 7th Constitutional Governments, and currently serves as Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing.