History UsefulNotes / Mozambique

The Republic of Mozambique (''República de Moçambique'' in Portuguese), is a large country in East UsefulNotes/{{Africa}}. Its capital and largest city, Maputo, was previously called Lourenço Marques until the independence.

** Prime Minister: Carlos Agostinho do Rosário

The Republic of Mozambique (''República de Moçambique'' in Portuguese), is a large country in East Africa. Its capital and largest city, Maputo, was previously called Lourenço Marques until the independence.

* '''Highest point:''' Monte Binga (2436 m/7,992 ft) (108th)

* '''Highest point:''' Monte Binga (2436 m/7,992 ft) (103rd)

* '''Highest point:''' Monte Binga (2436 m/7,992 ft) (122nd)

* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' MZ

* '''Currency:''' Mozambican metical (MTn) (MZN)

----

Up until the arrival of [[UsefulNotes/{{Portugal}} Portuguese]] explorers and merchants, it was mostly inhabited (and it still is, albeit in a smaller proportion) by Bantu-speaking people who migrated from the Zambezi river between the 1st and 5th centuries AD. However, there aren't many traces of their way of living in the Middle Ages, since they were mostly composed of agricultural communities and societies. They also had Swahili, Arab and Persian trade ports and settlements.

The Republic of Mozambique (''República de Moçambique'' in Portuguese), is a country in East Africa. Its capital and largest city, Maputo, was previously called Lourenço Marques until the independence.

The Republic of Mozambique (''República de Moçambique'' in Portuguese), is a country in Southeast Africa. Its capital and largest city, Maputo, was previously called Lourenço Marques until the independence.

The new government, led by Samora Machel, was a one-party state based on Marxist principles and backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba. However, two years, a long and violent civil war was fought till 1992 between the anti-Communist RENAMO militias and the Marxist FRELIMO regime. Like in the early stages of the Colonial War, RENAMO occupied the rural areas and isolated the urban areas, which were occupied by the FRELIMO. The war caused, among other things, the collapse of the infrastructure, a failed central planning, the exodus of the remaining Portuguese people and the Mozambicans of Portuguese heritage, and, ultimately, widespread famine. Not to mention the mass human rights violations (which included the execution of tens of thousands of people and the sending of many other thousands to re-education camps where the majority died).

->The flag is based on that used by the FRELIMO, and uses all four Pan-African colors. The green, black and yellow stripes represent natural bounty, the African people, and mineral resources, respectively. At the hoist side is a triangle red, colored to symbolize the struggle for independence. At its center is the golden star of Marxism, upon which is superimposed a book, a hoe and an AK-47 with a bayonet attached to the barrel (making this flag the only one in the world to incorporate a modern weapon), symbolizing education, agriculture and the defense of Mozambique's liberty, respectively.

The independence war began in September 1964, by the guerrilla actions of the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO). After 10 years of sporadic fighting and the change of Portugal's regime towards a democracry, FRELIMO achieved the full control of the territory and expelled the Portuguese, achieving full independence in 1975.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/flag_of_mozambique_svg_1_5961.png
->The flag includes the image of an AK-47 with a bayonet attached to the barrel. It's the only national flag in the world to feature such a modern rifle. The flag is based on the flag of the FRELIMO. It is composed of green, black and yellow stripes separated by white fimbriations and a red triangle on the hoist. Green stands for the riches of the land, the white fimbriations signify peace, black represents the African continent, yellow symbolizes the country's minerals, and red represents the struggle for independence. The rifle stands for defence and vigilance, the open book symbolizes the importance of education, the hoe represents the country's agriculture, and the star symbolizes Marxism and internationalism.

The entry of the Portuguese began with Vasco da Gama's journey in 1498. From the 16th century onwards, it became a Portuguese colony, albeit with lesser influence in world trade and exploration compared to India, Brazil and the Far East. In the early 20th century, its administration was conceded to some private companies, but it was not renewed when Portugal began its new regime by António de Oliveira Salazar.

The new government, led by Samora Machel, was a one-party state based on Marxist principles and backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba. However, two years, a long and violent civil war was fought till 1992 between the anti-Communist RENAMO militias and the Marxist FRELIMO regime. Like in the early stages of the Colonial War, RENAMO occupied the rural areas and isolated the urban areas, which were occupied by the FRELIMO (FRELIMO had started the independence war in the position of RENAMO against Portugal). The war caused, among other things, the collapse of the infrastructure, a failed central planning, the exodus of the remaining Portuguese people and the Mozambicans of Portuguese heritage, and, ultimately, widespread famine. Not to mention the mass human rights violations (which included the execution of tens of thousands of people and the sending of many other thousands to re-education camps where the majority died).

The Republic of Mozambique (''República de Moçambique'' in Portuguese), is a country in Southeast Africa. Its capital and largest city is Maputo (previously called Lourenço Marques before the independence).

In 1986, Samora Machel died in a plane crash, allegedly caused by the South African government. His successor, Joaquim Chissano, started to change things, by implementing a capitalist economy, beginning peace talks with RENAMO and elaborating a new constitution and implementing free elections. The year after the civil war ended, 1.5 million Mozambican refugees who had sought asylum in the neighbouring countries returned. In 1996, it became the first nation that was never part of the British Empire that joined UsefulNotes/TheCommonwealth.

In 1986, Samora Machel died in a plane crash, allegedly caused by the South African government. His successor, Joaquim Chissano, started to change things, by implementing a capitalist economy, beginning peace talks with RENAMO and elaborating a new constitution and implementing free elections. The year after the civil war ended, 1.5 million Mozambican refugees who had sought asylum in the neighbouring countries returned. In 1996, it became the first nation that was not part of the British Empire that joined UsefulNotes/TheCommonwealth.

In 1986, Samora Machel died in a plane crash, allegedly caused by the South African government. His successor, Joaquim Chissano, started to change things, by implementing a capitalist economy, beginning peace talks with RENAMO and elaborating a new constitution and implementing free elections. The year after the civil war ended, 1.5 million Mozambican refugees who had sought asylum in the neighbouring countries returned.

->The flag includes the image of an AK-47 with a bayonet attached to the barrel. It's the only national flag in the world to feature such a modern rifle. The flag is based on the flag of the FRELIMO.
It is composed of green, black and yellow stripes separated by white fimbriations and a red triangle on the hoist. Green stands for the riches of the land, the white fimbriations signify peace, black represents the African continent, yellow symbolizes the country's minerals, and red represents the struggle for independence. The rifle stands for defence and vigilance, the open book symbolizes the importance of education, the hoe represents the country's agriculture, and the star symbolizes Marxism and internationalism.

->The flag includes the image of an AK-47 with a bayonet attached to the barrel. It's the only national flag in the world to feature such a modern rifle. The flag is based on the flag of the FRELIMO. It's composed of green, black and yellow stripes separated by white fimbriations and a red triangle on the hoist. Green stands for the riches of the land, the white fimbriations signify peace, black represents the African continent, yellow symbolizes the country's minerals, and red represents the struggle for independence. The rifle stands for defence and vigilance, the open book symbolizes the importance of education, the hoe represents the country's agriculture, and the star symbolizes Marxism and internationalism.

->The flag includes the image of an AK-47 with a bayonet attached to the barrel and its only national flag in the world to feature such a modern rifle. The flag is based on the flag of the FRELIMO. It's composed of green, black and yellow stripes separated by white fimbriations and a red triangle on the hoist.

The new government, led by Samora Machel, was a one-party state based on Marxist principles and backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba.