Mozambique Comoros Madagascar Seychelles Mauritius

Author: Zhou Min, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: August 1, 2002
Features:
Country: The Republic of Mozambique.
Independence Day: June 25 (1975).
National Day: June 25 (1975).
Natural Geography: Area of 799,000 square kilometers. Located in the southeastern part of Africa, it borders South Africa and Eswatini to the south, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi to the west, Tanzania to the north, and the Indian Ocean to the east. It overlooks Madagascar across the Mozambique Channel. The coastline is 2,630 kilometers long. Plateaus and mountains account for about 3/5 of the country, with the rest being plains. The terrain gradually rises from northwest to southeast in three steps: the northwest is highlands and mountains, with an average elevation of 500–1,000 meters, including Binga Mountain, which reaches 2,436 meters and is the highest point in the country; the central part is a plateau with an elevation of 200–500 meters; the southeastern coastal area is plains with an average elevation of 100 meters, one of the largest plains in Africa. The Zambezi, Limpopo, and Save rivers are the three main rivers. Lake Malawi serves as the border between Mozambique and Malawi. Tropical grassland climate.
Population: 15.74 million (August 1997), with over 60 ethnic groups, most of which belong to the Bantu language family. Portuguese is the official language, while major ethnic groups have their own languages. Most people adhere to traditional religions.
Capital: Maputo.
Brief History: In the 13th century, the Mashinga people established the Monomotapa Kingdom in present-day Zimbabwe and Mozambique. By the early 16th century, the kingdom was declining. In 1505, it was invaded by Portuguese colonizers and became a Portuguese "protectorate" in 1700. In 1752, Portugal established a governorate to govern it. Between 1884 and 1885, Mozambique was divided into Portuguese colonies. In 1951, Portugal changed it to an "overseas province." In 1891, the Balule people rebelled and fought for 25 years. On September 25, 1964, the Mozambican Liberation Front led a people's armed struggle against Portuguese colonial rule. On September 7, 1974, the Mozambican Liberation Front and the Portuguese government signed the Lusaka Agreement on Mozambican independence. Mozambique officially declared independence on June 25, 1975. In November 1990, the country was renamed the Republic of Mozambique and adopted a multi-party system.
Politics: The current constitution took effect on November 30, 1990. The constitution stipulates: replacing one-party rule with a multi-party system, implementing a separation of powers and judicial independence; the president is directly elected by the people, serving a five-year term with a maximum of two consecutive re-elections.
Foreign Policy: Adheres to an independent and non-aligned policy.
Relationship with China: On June 25, 1975, Mozambique established diplomatic relations with China.