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Mozambique Independence

by Vishal Kumar

Mozambique Independence brought freedom to the country of Mozambique. After the World War II, when several European nations were granting independence for their colonies, Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, the dictator of…


Mozambique Independence brought freedom to the country of Mozambique. After the World War II, when several European nations were granting independence for their colonies, Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, the dictator of Portugal stuck to the concept that Mozambique are overseas provinces of the mother country, and emigration to the colonies raised high.

The drive for Mozambique independence developed with a great pace, and in 1962 many anti-colonial political groups had formed the Front for the Mozambique Liberation, in September 1964, this initiated an armed campaign against the colonial rule of Portugal. This conflict, initiated the other Portuguese colonies of Angola and Guinea-Bissau to become a part of the so-called Portuguese Colonial War.

After 10 years of warfare and Portugal’s return to democracy FRELIMO took over the total control of the capital through a coup in April, 1974. Within a year, most of the Portuguese colonists had left, some had been chucked out by the new government while some other fled in fear. Finally on 25th June 1975 Mozambique got its independence.

Portugal’s policy of under-developing its colonies along with its rapid exodus left Mozambique with a very few number of human resources. Some of the historical evidence claimed that the country had been left with less than five engineers after June, 1975. During the year 2001, the economic growth could still be seen in cities of Beira, that Once had been a booming holiday hub on the coast. It is said to be the second largest city in Mozambique, with a population of around 300,000.

FRELIMO responded greatly to the Cold War politics and lack of resources and set up a one-party Socialist state. Since then it started receiving adequate international aid from Cuba and the Soviet bloc nations.

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