The internal conflict: The FRELIMO stood for a communist and
socialist social system, the RENAMO for a bourgeois, capitalist system. The external conflict: To further their own interests,
the apartheid states (Rhodesia and South Africa) but also other neighbors
meddled in the conflict in support of one or the other party.
FRELIMO – the government party
The “Mozambique Liberation Front” (FRELIMO) had been
fighting the Portuguese colonial power since the 1960's. With independence
in 1975, the FRELIMO seized power and established a one-party communist system,
nationalizing industry and restricting the free exercise of religion.
Supported by the USSR, the FRELIMO officially adopted Marxist-Leninism in 1977.
RENAMO – the resistance movement
After independence in 1975, a terrorist resistance group took form under the name RENAMO.
Only later, under the growing discontentment of the populace, did it begin to gather
popular support. Aided by Rhodesia and South Africa, the RENAMO began its military
struggle against the communist FRELIMO government. Through intimidation of the civilian
population, kidnapping of development workers, forced recruitment of child soldiers,
and destruction of the infrastructure, it managed to bring a sizable portion of the
country under its control and to put an end to communism therein.
Rhodesia, South Africa and the other African states
The white apartheid governments in South Africa
and the British colony of Rhodesia feared that, encouraged by the example
of Mozambique, their own native black populations might seize power and establish
communist systems in their countries. Thus, until the end of white rule in
1980, Rhodesia officially supported the RENAMO. Thereafter South Africa continued
to support the RENAMO with money and weapons until the end of its apartheid
regime in 1990.
Other African states like Tanzania (independent since 1961 and socialist until the
early 1990's), Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe (together the former Rhodesia) supported
now one, now the other of the conflicting parties according to their own economic
and political interests.
Community of Sant' Egidio – a Catholic lay movement
The Community of Sant' Egidio was founded in 1968 by a group of Roman high school students,
taking its name from its original meeting place, the former Carmelite cloister of Sant' Egidio
in Rome. Inspired by the 2nd Vatican Council, its central concerns are: prayer, the spread
of the Gospel, ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue, and aid to the poor (first in Rome, then world wide).
In the 1980's, it became engaged in political peace-making as the basis for effective
humanitarian aid. Sant' Egidio has exercised a peace-making role in Lebanon (1982) and
in Algeria (1989) and elsewhere. Active in some 70 countries around the world, the movement
numbers over 50,000 members and maintains a worldwide network of contact persons.
The Community of Sant' Egidio began humanitarian work in Mozambique in 1984.
In the peace negotiations beginning in 1989, members of the community helped the
parties to reach agreement by exercising patience, sensitivity, and respect.
