| "> | | | | brutal dictatorships), Swaziland (an absolute |
| Mozambique - A New Democracy in Africa | | | | monarchy) and South Africa (a multiparty |
| Independence | | | | democracy). It is home to tropical rainforests, |
| Did you know- In the mid-1970s, like Seychelles | | | | swamps, savannahs and several rivers. |
| (Africa), Suriname (South America), Guinea Bissau | | | | Maputo |
| (Africa), and Papua New Guinea (Oceania), | | | | Did you know- The capital city is Maputo, which |
| Mozambique became an independent nation on the | | | | was set up in 1544. It is located in the south. |
| Planet.Following over three centuries under | | | | There are other metropolises such as Beira and |
| Portuguese rule, Mozambique, a resource-rich | | | | Nampula. |
| nation, won its independence on June 25, 1975. In | | | | National Heroes |
| the succeeding months, the modern nation of | | | | Did you know- This nation has a handful of idols: |
| Mozambique, a former war-torn country (1977 | | | | from Samora Moises Machel (Mozambique's |
| -1992), joined the United Nations. | | | | former ruler, 1975-1986), Jose Craveirinha |
| World-famous Women | | | | (author), and Maria de Lourdes Mutola (2000 |
| Did you know- In the 1990s and 2000s, the | | | | Olympic champ, 800m) to Luis Bernardo Honwana |
| Olympic team was led by Maria de Lourdes | | | | (novelist) and Luisa Dias Diogo (former Prime |
| Mutola, who won a host of medals and trophies, | | | | Minister), as well as Graca Machel (one of |
| including a gold medal at the XXVII Summer | | | | sub-Saharan Africa's most eminent campaigner |
| Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Educated in the | | | | for democracy and women's rights). |
| United States of America, Mutola (800m and | | | | Major International Organizations |
| 1500m /track & field) is a female idol in | | | | Did you know- In addition to being an official |
| Africa and Mozambique since 1996 when earned a | | | | member of the United Nations ( UN), it is also |
| bronze medal in the women's 800m in the | | | | member of many international organizations: The |
| Olympics in Atlanta, GA. | | | | Commonwealth (originally called the British |
| Modern History | | | | Commonwealth of Nations), the Organization of |
| Did you know- Following independence in 1975, this | | | | Africa Unity (OUA), and the Non-Aligned |
| Portuguese-speaking nation, led by Samora | | | | Movement (NAM). |
| Machel, became a Marxist state, with Russian | | | | Multi-sport Events |
| Chinese backing, until the break-up of the Soviet | | | | Did you know- Curiously, Maputo, Mozambique's |
| Union. Certainly, it was one of Europe's last | | | | capital, has been elected as the host for the 2011 |
| colonies on the continent of Africa. Around this | | | | African Games. |
| time, the African country of Mozambique boasted | | | | Woman and Power |
| one of the world's worst civil wars, between 1977 | | | | Did you know- Graca Machel, former First Lady |
| and 1992. In the meantime, under that | | | | of Mozambique ( from 1975 to 1986) and South |
| atmosphere, it was one of the ten poorest | | | | Africa ( 1998-99), is a pioneer African campaigner |
| countries on Earth, along with other Marxist states | | | | for women's rights. Thanks to her crusade for |
| such as Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Angola. Over that | | | | the rights of African women, Mozambique |
| time, the African nation became a Soviet satellite | | | | boasted one of the highest proportion of women |
| state in the Third World. Nonetheless, Mozambique | | | | in its national congress in the late 1990s and early |
| -- like Guyana, Kenya, Mauritius, and India-- was | | | | 2000s. Graca, Nelson Mandela's wife, was born on |
| an anti-apartheid leader on the Planet. | | | | October 17, 1945, in Incadine, Gaza Province, |
| During Cold War, it was home to several | | | | Mozambique. In the meantime, in the 21st |
| anti-apartheid activists and black South Africans. In | | | | century,Mozambique became one of the first |
| the decade that followed, the nation's ruler | | | | former Portuguese colonies in the world to elect a |
| Joaquim Chissano became one of the architects | | | | female (Luisa Dias Diogo) as its Head of |
| of the 1990 Constitution. In the subsequent years, | | | | Government. |
| the modern nation of Mozambique held its first | | | | Tourism |
| multi-party election, making it one of Africa's first | | | | Did you know- With its natural beauty, from |
| democracies in the 1990s, alongside republics as | | | | spectacular waterfalls and unique tropical beaches |
| Cape Verde, Sao Tomé and | | | | to amazing rivers, picturesque towns and historic |
| Príncipe, and Cote d'Ivoire.On the other | | | | buildings, and abundant wildlife, Mozambique is one |
| hand, by that time, the government and the rebel | | | | of the new paradises on the Planet. But there's |
| Mozambique National Resistance (MNR) signed a | | | | more, of course. This land is home to the |
| peace agreement in Rome, ending years of | | | | Mozambique Island, one of the UNESCO World |
| conflict. Then, Armando Emilo Guebuza won | | | | Heritage Sites. |
| Mozambique's first free presidential election in the | | | | Foreign Relations |
| 21st century. | | | | Did you know- The new democratic rule has |
| Geography | | | | opened the country to the outside world, and |
| Did you know- This former Marxist state is | | | | today Mozambique maintains close relations with all |
| located on the southern coast of Eastern Africa. | | | | African nations, Portugal, France, Britain and the |
| The Portuguese-speaking country is surrounded | | | | United States of America. Like most of Africa, |
| by Tanzania (also former Socialist republic), Malawi | | | | this Portuguese-speaking country has strong links |
| (ex anti-Communist nation), Zambia (ex British | | | | with the People's Republic of China. |
| colony), Zimbabwe (one of the world's most | | | | |