Etymology

The country was named Moçambique by the Portuguese after the Island of Mozambique, derived
from either Mussa Bin Bique, Musa Al Big, Mossa Al Bique, Mussa Ben Mbiki or Mussa Ibn Malik, an
Arab trader who first visited the island and later lived there[15] and was still alive when Vasco da
Gama called at the island in 1498.[16] The island-town was the capital of the Portuguese colony until
1898, when it was moved south to Lourenço Marques (now Maputo).

History

Main article: History of Mozambique

Mozambican dhow

Bantu migrations

Further information: Bantu expansion

Bantu-speaking peoples migrated into Mozambique as early as the 4th century BC.[17] It is believed
between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, waves of migration from the west and north went through the
Zambezi River valley and then gradually into the plateau and coastal areas of Southern Africa.[18] They
established agricultural communities or societies based on herding cattle. They brought with them
the technology for smelting[19] and smithing iron.

Swahili Coast

Arab-Swahili slave traders and their captives on the

From the late first millennium AD, vast Indian Ocean trade networks extended as far south into
Mozambique as evidenced by the ancient port town of Chibuene.[20] Beginning in the 9th century, a
growing involvement in Indian Ocean trade led to the development of numerous port towns along
the entire East African coast, including modern day Mozambique. Largely autonomous, these towns
broadly participated in the incipient Swahili culture. Islam was often adopted by urban elites,
facilitating trade. In Mozambique, Sofala, Angoche, and Mozambique Island were regional powers by
the 15th century.[21]
The towns traded with merchants from both the African interior and the broader Indian Ocean
world. Particularly important were the gold and ivory caravan routes. Inland states like the Kingdom
of Zimbabwe and Kingdom of Mutapa provided the coveted gold and ivory, which were then
exchanged up the coast to larger port cities like Kilwa and Mombasa.[22]

Mozambican Civil War (1977–1992)

Main articles: People's Republic of Mozambique and Mozambican Civil War

A land mine victim in Mozambique

The new government under President Samora Machel established a one-party state based on
Marxist principles. It received diplomatic and some military support from Cuba and the Soviet Union
and proceeded to crack down on opposition.[37] Starting shortly after independence, the country was
plagued from 1977 to 1992 by a long and violent civil war between the opposition forces of anti-
communist Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) rebel militias and the FRELIMO regime. This
conflict characterised the first decades of Mozambican independence, combined with sabotage from
the neighbouring states of Rhodesia and South Africa, ineffective policies, failed central planning, and
the resulting economic collapse. This period was also marked by the exodus of Portuguese nationals
and Mozambicans of Portuguese heritage,[38] a collapsed infrastructure, lack of investment in
productive assets, and government nationalisation of privately owned industries, as well as
widespread famine.

During most of the civil war, the FRELIMO-formed central government was unable to exercise
effective control outside urban areas, many of which were cut off from the capital.[18] RENAMO-
controlled areas included up to 50% of the rural areas in several provinces, and it is reported that
health services of any kind were isolated from assistance for years in those areas. The problem
worsened when the government cut back spending on health care.[39] The war was marked by mass
human rights violations from both sides of the conflict, with both RENAMO and FRELIMO
contributing to the chaos through the use of terror and indiscriminate targeting of civilians. [40][41] The
central government executed tens of thousands of people while trying to extend its control
throughout the country and sent many people to "re-education camps" where thousands died. [40]
 The geopolitical situation in 1975; nations friendly to the
FRELIMO are shown in orange.

During the war, RENAMO proposed a peace agreement based on the secession of RENAMO-
controlled northern and western territories as the independent Republic of Rombesia, but FRELIMO
refused, insisting on the undivided sovereignty of the entire country. An estimated one million
Mozambicans perished during the civil war, 1.7 million took refuge in neighbouring states, and
several million more were internally displaced.[42] The FRELIMO regime also gave shelter and support
to South African (African National Congress) and Zimbabwean (Zimbabwe African National Union)
rebel movements, while the governments of Rhodesia and later Apartheid South Africa backed
RENAMO in the civil war.[18] Between 300,000 and 600,000 people died of famine during the war.[43]

On 19 October 1986, Machel was on his way back from an international meeting in Zambia when his
plane crashed in the Lebombo Mountains near Mbuzini in South Africa. President Machel and thirty-
three others died, including ministers and officials of the Mozambique government. The United
Nations' Soviet delegation issued a minority report contending that their expertise and experience
had been undermined by the South Africans. Representatives of the Soviet Union advanced the
theory that the plane had been intentionally diverted by a false navigational beacon signal, using a
technology provided by military intelligence operatives of the South African government. [44]

Machel's successor Joaquim Chissano implemented sweeping changes in the country, starting
reforms such as changing from Marxism to capitalism and began peace talks with RENAMO. The new
constitution enacted in 1990 provided for a multi-party political system, a market-based economy,
and free elections. That same year, Mozambique abolished the people's republic as the country's
official name. The civil war ended in October 1992 with the Rome General Peace Accords, first
brokered by the Christian Council of Mozambique (Council of Protestant Churches) and then taken
over by Community of Sant'Egidio. Peace returned to Mozambique, under the supervision of the
peacekeeping force of the United Nations.[45][18]