Foreign relations of Mozambique

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

While alliances dating back to the Mozambican War of Independence remain relevant, Mozambique's foreign policy has become increasingly pragmatic. The twin pillars of the policy are maintenance of good relations with its neighbors and maintenance and expansion of ties to development partners.

History

During the 1970s and early 1980s, Mozambique's foreign policy was inextricably linked to the struggles for majority rule in Rhodesia and South Africa as well as superpower competition and the Cold War. Mozambique's decision to enforce United Nations sanctions against Rhodesia and support Rhodesian guerrillas led Ian Smith's regime to undertake overt and covert actions to destabilize the country. Although the change of government in Zimbabwe in 1980 removed this threat, the apartheid regime in South Africa continued to finance the destabilization of Mozambique.

The 1984 Nkomati Accord, while failing in its goal of ending South African support to RENAMO, opened initial diplomatic contacts between the Mozambican and South African governments. This process gained momentum with South Africa's elimination of apartheid, which culminated in the establishment of full diplomatic relations in October 1993. While relations with neighboring Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania show occasional strains, Mozambique's ties to these countries remain strong.

Embassy of Mozambique in Washington, D.C.

In the years immediately following its independence, Mozambique benefited from considerable assistance from some western countries, notably the Scandinavians. The Soviet Union and its allies, however, became Mozambique's primary economic, military, and political supporters and its foreign policy reflected this linkage. This began to change in 1983; in 1984 Mozambique joined the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Western aid quickly replaced Soviet support, with the Scandinavians, Finland, the United States, the Netherlands, and the European Union becoming increasingly important sources of development assistance. Italy also maintains a profile in Mozambique as a result of its key role during the peace process. Relations with Portugal, the former colonial power, are complex and of some importance as Portuguese investors play a visible role in Mozambique's economy.

Mozambique is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement and ranks among the moderate members of the African Bloc in the United Nations and other international organizations. Mozambique also belongs to the Organisation of African Unity/African Union and the Southern African Development Community. In 1994, the Government became a full member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (now the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), in part to broaden its base of international support but also to please the country's sizeable Muslim population. Similarly, in early 1996 Mozambique joined its Anglophone neighbors in the Commonwealth. In the same year, Mozambique became a founding member and the first President of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and maintains close ties with other Lusophone states. The country is also a member of the Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA).

Illicit drugs: Southern African transit point for South Asian hashish, South Asian heroin, and South American cocaine probably destined for the European and South African markets; producer of cannabis (for local consumption) and methaqualone (for export to South Africa); corruption and poor regulatory capability makes the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Mozambique maintains diplomatic relations with:

More information #, Country ...
# Country Date
1 Albania 25 June 1975[1]
2 Bulgaria 25 June 1975[2]
3 Canada 25 June 1975[3]
4 Cambodia 25 June 1975[1]
5 China 25 June 1975[1]
6 Republic of the Congo 25 June 1975[1]
7 Denmark 25 June 1975[1]
8 Egypt 25 June 1975[1]
9 Guinea 25 June 1975[1]
10 India 25 June 1975[1]
11 Iraq 25 June 1975[1]
12 Italy 25 June 1975[4]
13 Netherlands 25 June 1975[5]
14 Nigeria 25 June 1975[1]
15 North Korea 25 June 1975[1]
16 Norway 25 June 1975[1]
17 Poland 25 June 1975[6]
18 Portugal 25 June 1975[7]
19 Romania 25 June 1975[1]
20 Serbia 25 June 1975[8]
21 Somalia 25 June 1975[1]
22 Sweden 25 June 1975[1]
23 Vietnam 25 June 1975[9]
24 Tanzania 25 June 1975[5]
25 Zambia 25 June 1975[5]
26 Burundi 26 June 1975[10]
27 Hungary 26 June 1975[11]
28 Russia 28 June 1975[1]
29 Finland 18 July 1975[12]
30 Syria 5 August 1975[13]
31 Madagascar 9 August 1975[1]
32 Pakistan 9 August 1975[14]
33 Uganda 19 August 1975[15]
34 Guyana 21 August 1975[16]
35 United Kingdom 27 August 1975[17]
36 Cuba 29 August 1975[1]
37 Lesotho 9 September 1975[18]
38 Eswatini 11 September 1975[1]
39 United States 23 September 1975[19]
40 Mongolia 27 September 1975[20]
41 Brazil 14 November 1975[1]
42 Belgium 5 December 1975[21]
43 Cameroon 9 December 1975[22]
44 Botswana 1975[23]
45 Tunisia 1975[24]
46 Germany 3 February 1976[25]
47 Sierra Leone 12 March 1976[26]
48 Cape Verde 12 March 1976[26]
49 France 8 April 1976[27]
50  Switzerland 12 April 1976[28]
51 Rwanda 17 April 1976[29]
52 Sudan 17 April 1976[29]
53 Guinea-Bissau 9 June 1976[30]
54 Democratic Republic of the Congo 30 July 1976[31]
55 Greece 30 September 1976[32]
56 Austria 19 October 1976[33]
57 Czech Republic 5 November 1976[34]
58 Kenya 5 November 1976[34]
59 Japan 9 January 1977[35]
60 Spain 27 May 1977[36]
61 Ghana 27 June 1978[37]
62 Angola 5 September 1978[38][39]
63 Jamaica 7 August 1979[40]
64 Algeria 16 September 1979[41]
65 Laos 16 April 1980[40]
66 Zimbabwe 30 April 1980[42]
67 Cyprus 3 May 1980[43]
— Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic August 1980[44]
68 Turkey 20 January 1981[40]
69 Nicaragua January 1981[45]
70 Malawi 1 July 1981[40]
71 Grenada 27 July 1981[40]
72 Argentina 19 October 1981[40]
73 Libya December 1981[46]
74 São Tomé and Príncipe 1981[47]
75 Australia 1 April 1982[48]
76 Suriname 10 October 1982[49]
77 Iran 13 February 1983[50]
78 Bangladesh 24 March 1983[51]
79 Seychelles August 1983[52]
80 Ethiopia 10 December 1983[53]
81 Mauritius 29 November 1984[54]
82 Afghanistan 7 January 1985[40]
83 Comoros 20 June 1985[55]
84 Peru 20 February 1986[40]
85 Vanuatu 6 September 1986[56]
86   Nepal 30 September 1986[57]
87 Bolivia 20 November 1986[40]
88 Luxembourg 7 January 1988[58]
89 Mexico 26 February 1988[59]
90 Colombia 10 May 1988[40]
— State of Palestine 31 January 1989[60]
91 Thailand 19 April 1989[61]
92 Malaysia 1989[62]
93 New Zealand 6 June 1990[63]
94 Chile 25 July 1990[40]
95 Indonesia 4 October 1991[40]
96 Latvia 29 April 1992[40]
97 Oman 4 May 1993[40]
98 Israel 26 July 1993[40]
99 South Korea 11 August 1993[40]
100 Ukraine 19 August 1993[40]
101 South Africa 11 October 1993[64]
102 Uruguay 28 October 1993[65]
103 Lithuania 30 March 1994[40]
104 Qatar 11 June 1994[66]
105 Slovakia 10 May 1995[40]
106 Azerbaijan 20 June 1995[67]
107 Armenia 13 September 1995[68]
108 Maldives 27 November 1995[40]
— Holy See 14 December 1995[69]
109 Moldova 17 January 1996[40]
110 United Arab Emirates 3 April 1996[70]
111 Kuwait 20 May 1996[71]
112 Ireland 13 June 1996[40]
113 Brunei 18 June 1996[40]
114 Singapore 29 July 1996[40]
115 Croatia 23 August 1996[72]
116 Georgia 13 September 1996[73]
117 Bosnia and Herzegovina 27 September 1996[74]
118 Turkmenistan 22 November 1996[40]
119 Ecuador 3 December 1996[40]
120 Slovenia 19 December 1996[40]
121 Saudi Arabia 1996[75]
122 Guatemala 4 February 1997[40]
123 North Macedonia 28 February 1997[40]
124 Iceland 4 March 1997[40]
125 Philippines 27 March 1997[40]
126 Haiti 25 September 1997[40]
127 Belize 30 September 1997[40]
128 Paraguay 3 October 1997[40]
129 Bahrain 3 November 1997[40]
130 Lebanon 20 April 1998[40]
131 Sri Lanka 12 March 1999[40]
132 Belarus 29 February 2000[40]
133 Costa Rica 15 March 2001[40]
134 Timor-Leste 21 May 2002[76]
135 Bahamas 7 September 2005[40]
136 Venezuela 16 November 2005[77]
137 Mauritania 23 February 2006[78]
138 Namibia 23 November 2006[79]
139 Kazakhstan 18 June 2008[80]
140 Liberia 17 December 2008[81]
141 Malta 18 May 2009[40]
142 Estonia 25 September 2009[40]
143 Trinidad and Tobago 10 February 2010[82]
144 Montenegro 27 May 2010[40]
145 Equatorial Guinea 13 July 2011[83]
146 Mali 13 July 2011[83]
147 South Sudan 15 July 2011[84]
148 Jordan 9 August 2012[85]
149 Gabon 5 December 2012[86]
150 Fiji 6 December 2012[40]
151 Eritrea 10 December 2012[87]
152 Tajikistan 5 September 2013[40]
153 Niger 29 May 2014[88]
154 Senegal 29 May 2014[88]
155 Burkina Faso 16 September 2015[89]
156 El Salvador 29 September 2015[40]
157 Central African Republic 18 February 2016[90]
158 Saint Kitts and Nevis 9 November 2017[91]
159 Ivory Coast 11 December 2017[92]
160 Benin 24 October 2018[93]
161 Andorra 2 August 2019[40]
162 Dominican Republic 26 September 2019[94]
163 Kyrgyzstan 27 September 2019[40]
164 Monaco 20 October 2022[95]
165 Gambia 11 June 2025[96]
166 Uzbekistan 21 June 2025[97]
167 Morocco Unknown
Close

Bilateral relations

More information Country, Formal relations began ...
Country Formal relations began Notes
Angola5 September 1978See Angola–Mozambique relations
Brazil15 November 1975See Brazil–Mozambique relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 November 1975[98]

Canada25 June 1975See Canada–Mozambique relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1975[102]

China25 June 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1975[104]

See China–Mozambique relations

China-Mozambique relations date back to the 1960s, when China began to support the struggle of Mozambique's Marxist-oriented FRELIMO party against Portuguese colonialism.[105] Diplomatic relations were formally established on 25 June 1975, soon after Mozambique gained its independence from Portugal.[106] In November 2006, Mozambique became the thirteenth African country to be added to China's official list of tourism destinations.[107] Hu Jintao, president of the People's Republic of China, made an official visit to Mozambique in February 2007, during which he and Armando Guebuza, the president of Mozambique, pledged further cooperation in the areas of economy, technology, agriculture, education and sports.[108]

  • China has an embassy in Maputo.
  • Mozambique has an embassy in Beijing and a consulate-general in Macau.
Cuba27 August 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 August 1975[109]
  • Cuba has an embassy in Maputo.
  • Mozambique has an embassy in Havana.
Denmark25 June 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1975[104]

See Denmark–Mozambique relations

  • Denmark has an embassy in Maputo.
  • Mozambique is accredited to Denmark from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
Finland18 July 1975See Finland–Mozambique relations
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 July 1975[110]
  • Mozambique is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Finland has an embassy in Maputo.[111]
France19 February 1976See France–Mozambique relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 February 1976[112]

  • France has an embassy in Maputo.
  • Mozambique has an embassy in Paris.
Germany3 February 1976See Germany–Mozambique relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 February 1976[113]

  • Germany has an embassy in Maputo.
  • Mozambique has an embassy in Berlin.
India25 June 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1975[104]

See India–Mozambique relations

JapanJanuary 1977See Japan–Mozambique relations
  • Japan has an embassy in Maputo
  • Mozambique has an embassy in Tokyo
Kenya5 November 1976See Kenya–Mozambique relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 November 1976 when Ambassador of Kenya Hon. Kiyinda Nincola, has presented his credentials to President of Mozambique Samora Moises Machel.[34]

  • Kenya has a high commission in Maputo.
  • Mozambique has a high commission in Nairobi.
Malawi1 July 1981See Malawi-Mozambique relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 July 1981[118]

  • Malawi has a high commission in Maputo.
  • Mozambique has a high commission in Lilongwe.
Mexico26 February 1988Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 February 1988[119]

See Mexico–Mozambique relations

  • Mexico is accredited to Mozambique from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.[120]
  • Mozambique is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
Portugal25 June 1975See Mozambique–Portugal relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1975[121]

Both nations are members of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.

  • Mozambique has an embassy in Lisbon and a consulate-general in Porto.
  • Portugal has an embassy in Maputo and a consulate-general in Beira.
  • Portuguese companies are the second largest private investor in Mozambique.[122]
  • In July 2008, Mozambique and Portugal have signed an agreement to set up a fund to support investments worth US$124 million in the Mozambican energy sector.[123]
  • In July 2008, Portugal cancelled Mozambique's remaining debts to Portugal, estimated at US$393.4 million, accumulated from independence until 2005.[124]
Russia25 June 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1975[104]

See Mozambique–Russia relations

Mozambique-Russia relations date back to the 1960s, when Soviet Union began to support the struggle of Mozambique's Marxist-oriented FRELIMO party against Portuguese colonialism. Most leaders of the FRELIMO were trained in Moscow. Diplomatic relations were formally established on 25 June 1975, soon after Mozambique gained its independence from Portugal. In June 2007, both Russia and Mozambique signed an agreement on economic cooperation.[125]

  • Mozambique has an embassy in Moscow.
  • Russia has an embassy in Maputo.
São Tomé and Príncipe1981
  • Mozambique is accredited to São Tomé and Príncipe from its embassy in Luanda, Angola and maintains an honorary consulate in São Tomé.
  • São Tomé and Príncipe is accredited to Mozambique from its embassy in Luanda, Angola and maintains an honorary consulate in Maputo.[126]
South Africa26 September 1993See Mozambique–South Africa relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 September 1993[127]

South Korea11 August 1993

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Korea and Mozambique on 11 August 1993[128] There were 78 South Koreans living in Mozambique in 2012.[129]

Spain27 May 1977See Mozambique–Spain relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 May 1977[130]

  • Mozambique has an embassy in Madrid.
  • Spain has an embassy in Maputo.
Tanzania25 June 1975See Mozambique–Tanzania relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1975[5]

  • Mozambique has a high commission in Dar es Salaam and a consulate-general in Zanzibar City.
  • Tanzania has a high commission in Maputo.
Turkey20 January 1981See Mozambique–Turkey relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 January 1981[131]

  • Mozambique is accredited to Turkey from its embassy in Rome, Italy.[132]
  • Turkey has an embassy in Maputo.[132]
  • Trade volume between the two countries was US$153 million in 2019.[132]
United Kingdom27 August 1975See Mozambique–United Kingdom relations
Mozambican President Armando Guebuza with British Prime Minister David Cameron and British Foreign Secretary William Hague in 10 Downing Street, May 2012.

Mozambique established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 27 August 1975.[17]

  • Mozambique maintains ahigh commission in London.[133]
  • The United Kingdom is accredited to Mozambique through its high commission in Maputo.[134]

Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization, as well as the Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique–UK Economic Partnership Agreement.[135] Bilaterally the two countries have a Development Partnership,[136] a High Level Prosperity Partnership,[137] and an Investment Agreement.[138]

United States23 September 1975See Mozambique–United States relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 September 1975[139]

Relations between the United States and Mozambique are good and steadily improving. By 1993, U.S. aid to Mozambique was prominent, due in part to significant emergency food assistance in the wake of the 1991-93 southern African drought, but more importantly in support of the peace and reconciliation process. During the process leading up to elections in October 1994, the United States served as a significant financier and member of the most important commissions established to monitor implementation of the Rome General Peace Accords. The United States is the largest bilateral donor to the country and plays a leading role in donor efforts to assist Mozambique.

Close

See also

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI