ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt, sæntˈɑːnə dˈaɪd ɪn ɐn ˈæksɪdənt, ænd ðə fˈeɪlɪntəl kəmˈændɚ, ɹˈuːæk, wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd æz lˈiːdɚɹ ʌvðə "stɹˈʌɡəl", wˌaɪl ˈɔːlsoʊ ɹᵻmˈeɪnɪŋ ˌɑːpɚɹˈeɪʃənəl kəmˈændɚɹ ʌv fˈeɪlɪntəl.
In 1998, Santana died in an accident, and the Falintil commander, Ruak, was elected as leader of the "Struggle", while also remaining operational commander of Falintil.