1. June: Mozambique's independence and the shadow of war

<ol> <li>June: Mozambique's independence and the shadow of war</li> </ol>

On June 25, 2025, the world will look at some notable events that took place on this date in the past, most notably Mozambique's independence in 1975. After almost 500 years of Portuguese colonial rule, the country won its right to self-determination and entered a new era. How star reports, June 25, 1975 is one of the milestones in Mozambique's history.

But the path to stability was anything but easy. Just two years after independence, the Mozambican civil war broke out in 1977 and lasted until 1992. In this bitter conflict, the government under FRELIMO (Frente de Libertação de Moçambique) fought against the rebel organization RENAMO (Resistência Nacional Moçambicana), which was supported by Rhodesia. How Wikipedia informed, RENAMO turned against FRELIMO to gain control of Mozambique, resulting in a brutal war in which up to 900,000 people lost their lives.

The end of a conflict and the new beginning

On October 4, 1992, the civil war was officially ended with the General Peace Agreement of Rome. This agreement, supported by the lay Catholic community of Sant'Egidio and financed by Italy, marked the beginning of a hard-fought peace. As the Federal Agency for Civic Education ( bpb ), RENAMO was subsequently transformed into a political party and was able to take part in the first free elections in 1994.

Despite the peace agreement, many challenges remained. The population lived in poverty - until 2008, more than every second person was affected by extreme poverty. Although Mozambique is considered a model for international development cooperation, many households do not benefit from the positive economic developments. In 2010, the country ranked modestly in the UN human development rankings and did not make substantial progress until 2024, when FRELIMO won elections and confirmed Daniel Chapo as president.

Current developments and challenges

However, the political unrest is not a closed chapter. There were also serious protests against election fraud in 2024, which cost more than 300 people their lives and injured thousands. Tensions were fueled by social injustices and ongoing opposition to the government led by Venâncio Mondlane, a former RENAMO candidate. These conflicts and the challenges they create - from economic inequality to high youth unemployment to natural disasters - accompany Mozambique as the country strives to maintain stability and peace.

The history of Mozambique teaches us much about the struggle for freedom and the challenges that come with an entrenched history. On this historic day, we remember not only independence, but also the ongoing efforts to create a better life for all Mozambicans.