The recent history of Mozambique is a constant fight for freedom. On September 7, 1974, Samora Machel of Frelimo agrees on a cease-fire with the Portuguese minister of foreign affairs. The agreement also includes independence of Mozambique with a Frelimo based transitional government. June 25, 1975: Mozambique becomes independent. Samora Machel is the first president in a Frelimo single-party system. 1977: The socialist wing of Frelimo gains more power. The party is now...
more »The recent history of Mozambique is a constant fight for freedom. On September 7, 1974, Samora Machel of Frelimo agrees on a cease-fire with the Portuguese minister of foreign affairs. The agreement also includes independence of Mozambique with a Frelimo based transitional government. June 25, 1975: Mozambique becomes independent. Samora Machel is the first president in a Frelimo single-party system. 1977: The socialist wing of Frelimo gains more power. The party is now "Marxist-Leninist" and makes new plans after Soviet model. The changes to a very traditionally bound society came as a shock to many and gave Frelimo new enemies. Rhodesia and South Africa tries by all means to destabilise Mozambique by creating "Renamo" (the National Resistance movement of Mozambique). Renamo is anti-socialist and anti-Frelimo, July 1989: The Marxist-Leninist doctrine of Frelimo is officially cancelled at the party's congress. Renamo still doesn't have a political ideology except a wish for the introduction of market-economy. It becomes clear that neither Frelimo nor Renamo can get a final military victory to end the absurd civil war. October 4th, 1992: A new round of peace negotiations in Rome finally results in a cease-fire and peace treaty. The end of the cold war has changed the international political climate, and thereby making way for peace in Mozambique. The cease-fire is officially in effect. As a part of the treaty, Frelimo has to acknowledge the existence of Renamo as a political party in Mozambique. A huge effort is made to change Renamo from a guerrilla army to a responsible party of politicians. Life slowly returns to abandoned towns all over the country. Friends, neighbours and family members were forced to fight on different sides in the war. Now they face the challenge of reconciliation and building a future together. Médecins sans Frontières is providing humaniatrian aid in a country devastated by civil war.
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