Mozambican War of Independence

Mozambican War of Independence
Part of the Portuguese Colonial War, the Decolonisation of Africa, and the Cold War

Samora Machel reviewing FRELIMO troops
Date25 September 1964 – 8 September 1974
(9 years, 11 months and 2 weeks)
25 June 1975 (independence)
Location
Mozambique
Result

Mozambican victory

Belligerents
FRELIMO  Portugal
Support:
Support:
Commanders and leaders
Samora Machel
Joaquim Chissano
Eduardo Mondlane
Filipe Samuel Magaia		 António Augusto dos Santos
Kaúlza de Arriaga
Strength
15,000–20,000[45][46] 50,000 (17 May 1970)[47]
Casualties and losses
Uncertain, heavy[citation needed] ~10,000 (killed and wounded)[citation needed]
~50,000 civilians killed[citation needed]

The Mozambican War of Independence[48] was an armed conflict between the guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) and Portugal. The war officially started on 25 September 1964, and ended with a ceasefire on 8 September 1974, resulting in a negotiated independence in 1975.

Portugal's wars against guerrilla fighters seeking independence in its 400-year-old African territories began in 1961 with Angola. In Mozambique, the conflict erupted in 1964 as a result of unrest and frustration amongst many indigenous Mozambican populations, who perceived foreign rule as exploitation and mistreatment, which served only to further Portuguese economic interests in the region. Many Mozambicans also resented Portugal's policies towards indigenous people, which resulted in discrimination and limited access to Portuguese-style education and skilled employment.

As successful self-determination movements spread throughout Africa after World War II, many Mozambicans became progressively more nationalistic in outlook, and increasingly frustrated by the nation's continued subservience to foreign rule. For the other side, many enculturated indigenous Africans who were fully integrated into the social organization of Portuguese Mozambique, in particular those from urban centres, reacted to claims of independence with a mixture of discomfort and suspicion. The ethnic Portuguese of the territory, which included most of the ruling authorities, responded with increased military presence and fast-paced development projects.

A mass exile of Mozambique's political intelligentsia to neighboring countries provided havens from which radical Mozambicans could plan actions and foment political unrest in their homeland. The formation of FRELIMO and the support of the Soviet Union, Romania, China, Cuba, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Tanzania, Zambia, Egypt, Algeria, Gaddafi regime in Libya and Brazil through arms and advisers, led to the outbreak of violence that was to last well over a decade.

From a military standpoint, the Portuguese regular army held the upper hand during the conflict against FRELIMO guerrilla forces. Nonetheless, Mozambique succeeded in achieving independence on 25 June 1975, after a civil resistance movement known as the Carnation Revolution backed by portions of the military in Portugal overthrew the Salazar regime, thus ending 470 years of Portuguese colonial rule in the East African region. According to historians of the Revolution, the military coup in Portugal was in part fueled by protests concerning the conduct of Portuguese troops in their treatment of some of the indigenous Mozambican populace.[49][50] The growing communist influence within the group of Portuguese insurgents who led the military coup and the pressure of the international community in relation to the Portuguese Colonial War were the primary causes of the outcome.[51]

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  48. ^ (Portuguese: Guerra da Independência de Moçambique, 'War of Independence of Mozambique')
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