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Sub-Saharan Africa
Mozambique had a troubled start to self-rule. After almost 500 years of Portuguese colonial rule, the liberation party Frelimo won its fight for national independence in 1975. Mozambique became a People’s Republic, with the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) as the official party. The rebel movement Renamo, supported by the then apartheid regime in South Africa, engaged in a 16-year-long fight against the Frelimo regime, during which time the people had to endure civil war and destruction. More than one million people lost their lives in the conflict and one third of the population fled their homes. By the time the conflicting parties finally signed a peace agreement in 1992, most of the country lay in ruins.
However, even though certain tensions persist between the former civil-war opponents, Mozambique is now a republic and has succeeded in making the transition to democratic rule. Since 1994, several parties have been represented in parliament. Human rights and freedom of opinion are now enshrined in the constitution. The government is working hard to establish a state based on the rule of law.
Once the government had switched its economic policy to the principles of a free-market economy in the 1990s, Mozambique experienced an economic upturn. Economic growth is strong, although it has also been repeatedly held back by natural disasters – for example, the cyclone of 2007 and the catastrophic flooding of 2008. Poverty has been significantly reduced. And yet, the country remains one of the poorest in the world. According to the 2008 Human Development Index (HDI), Mozambique ranks 175th of 179 countries. More than half the population still lives below the national poverty line. The government has set itself the goal of reducing the proportion of people living in absolute poverty to 45 per cent by the end of 2009. To do this, however, Mozambique needs external support; more than half of the national budget is financed from development funding provided by the international community.
Cooperation between Mozambique and Germany
Diplomatic relations between Mozambique and the Federal Republic of Germany began in 1976. Mozambique also maintained close relations with the former German Democratic Republic.
Since Mozambique’s civil war ended in 1992, Germany has been involved in efforts to rebuild the country. Initially the focus of the cooperation was on promoting democratic structures, reintegrating ex-combatants into society, clearing mines and building up the infrastructure that had been destroyed. The new priority areas of development cooperation between Mozambique and Germany are now decentralisation for rural development, education and sustainable economic development. Important cross-cutting topics for development cooperation are HIV/AIDS and gender equality.
Together with other donors in the group known as the G19, Germany is providing Mozambique with direct budget support. The aim is to help the country implement its national poverty reduction strategy.
German Embassy
German Embassy in Mozambique
Rua Damião de Gois, 506
Maputo
Mozambique
Phone: +258 / 21 / 48 27 00
Fax: +258 / 21 / 49 28 88
