Politics in Mozambique takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Mozambique is head of state and head of government in a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, and the President of the Republic. The Assembly of the Republic is the country's only national legislative chamber. The judiciary branch has the Constitutional Council, the highest court on Constitutional issues; the Administrative Tribunal, the highest court on administration matters; and the Supreme Court, the highest criminal and civil court. The judiciary is managed by the Superior Council of the Judiciary.
In their 2024 report, the Economist Democracy Index classified Mozambique as an authoritarian regime due to election manipulation. Observers from organizations like the European Union and Carter Foundation have found election irregularities. Opposition parties often allege election fraud. The 2024 national election saw a surge of demonstrations and police violence towards protestors. FRELIMO has been and currently remains the country's ruling party. Mozambique has faced insurgencies both from RENAMO, one of the opposition political parties, and Al-Shabaab, a jihadist militant group. Mozambique has ratified several international treaties, is a member of the Southern African Economic Partnership Agreement, and participates in international organizations such as the World Health Organization, Interpol, and the Commonwealth of Nations.
Civil war and transition to democracy
Portuguese colonial rule ended in 1974 following the decade long Mozambican War of Independence. The conflict was originally led by Eduardo Mondlane until his assassination in 1969. Mozambique declared its independence in 1975. The military campaign leaders of Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (FRELIMO) quickly formed a one-party state allied with the Soviet bloc. Under FRELIMO's leadership, political pluralism, religious educational institutions, and the role of traditional leaders came to an end. Due to the group splitting into several factions along with its lack of respect for spiritual and traditional leadership, over 85 percent of the population did not recognize FRELIMO's rule as legitimate.
Armando Guebuza ordered Mozambique's Portuguese population to leave the country within 24 hours. Since they were only permitted to carry 20 kilograms of belongings, they had to leave behind most of their assets. Those who returned to Portugal were derided for their poverty since aiding them was seen as a drain on the country's limited resources. Many of the returning refugees went on to commit suicide.
FRELIMO's government supported both the South African (ANC) and Zimbabwean (ZANU-PF) guerrilla movements by providing food and shelter. The governments of apartheid South Africa and Rhodesia funded an armed rebel movement in central Mozambique called the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO). RENAMO was opposed to FRELIMO's Marxist autocratic government; their goal was to force FRELIMO to bring about democratic multiparty elections. By 1980, RENAMO came under the control of South Africa's military intelligence. The U.S. State Department describes this period as, "Civil war, sabotage from neighboring states, and economic collapse characterised the first decade of Mozambican independence."
RENAMO exploited FRELIMO's lack of respect towards religion and farmers to gain popularity in rural regions. However, RENAMO was also strongly disliked due to its violent methods to gain control of the civilization population, giving it a reputation as a "parasite army" internationally.
The Mozambican Civil War ravaged the countries infrastructure. Between 1977 and 1992, about a million people died as a result of fighting or famine. 1.7 million fled to surrounding nations, and six million more people were displaced within Mozambique. During the third FRELIMO party congress in 1983, President Samora Machel acknowledged that socialism had failed as well as the need for political and economic reform. Progress would be hindered by a plane crash three years later that killed Machel and several advisors.
Joaquim Chissano continued political reforms, including starting peace talks with RENAMO. In November 1990, a new constitution set up for the nation a democratic multi-party system with a market-based economy. The Mozambican Civil War ended on October 4, 1992, with an agreement brokered by the United Nations known as the Rome General Peace Accords.
Mozambique's first democratic election was held in 1994; Chissano was elected as President of the Republic. The elections for the Assembly of the Republic (the nation's parliament) resulted in 129 FRELIMO deputies, 112 RENAMO deputies, and 9 deputies from minor parties becoming members of the assembly. By mid-1995, the over 1.7 million Mozambican refugees who sought asylum in neighboring countries returned. It was the largest repatriation in Sub-Saharan Africa. 4 million Mozambicans who were internally displaced during the war returned to their places of origin. The ONUMOZ peacekeeping force of the United Nations supervised to ensure peace was maintained.
The modern Constitution of Mozambique was adopted in November 2004. It came into effect in January 2005 and created the Constitutional Council, Ombudsman, and Council of State.
Executive branch
|President |Daniel Chapo |FRELIMO |15 January 2025 |- |Prime Minister |Maria Benvinda Levy |FRELIMO |15 January 2025
The Constitution of Mozambique stipulates that the President of the Republic functions as the head of state, head of government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and as a symbol of national unity.Constitution of Mozambique , Article 117: "1. The President of the Republic is the head of State, embodying national unity representing the nation domestically and internationally, and overseeing the correct operation of the State organs. 2. The head of State shall be the guarantor of the Constitution. 3. The President of the Republic shall be the head of the Government. 4. The President of the Republic shall be the Commander-in-Chief of the armed and security forces." He is directly elected for a five-year term via run-off voting; if no candidate receives more than half of the votes cast in the first round of voting, a second round of voting will be held in which only the two candidates who received the highest number of votes in the first round will participate, and whichever of the candidates obtains a majority of votes in the second round will thus be elected president.Constitution of Mozambique , Article 119: "1. The candidate who receives more than half the votes cast shall be elected President of the Republic. 2. If no candidate obtains the necessary majority, there shall be a second ballot between the two candidates receiving the most votes."
The President of the Republic is advised by the Council of State, a body which consists of the Ombudsman, the Prime Minister, the President of the Constitutional Council, previous Presidents of the Republic, the former President (speaker) of the Assembly of the Republic, seven council members elected by the Assembly of the Republic, four appointees chosen by the President of the Republic, and the runner up for President of the Republic in the elections.
The Prime Minister is appointed by the President. His functions include convening and chairing the Council of Ministers (cabinet) who assist the President in governing the country and coordinate the functions of the other ministries. The Council of Ministers powers include the following: sign, ratify, follow, or end international agreements; supervise provincial, district, and local governments; draft bills to the Assembly of the Republic; pass decreed laws (subject to the assembly's ratification or refusal); defend the government's property and land; regulate economic and social sector activity; promote entrepreneurship and the development of co-operatives; ensure public order, social discipline, and the rights and freedoms of citizens; guide, direct, and regulate the country's representative bodies; create the Economic and Social Plan; create the State's Budget; and implement the State's Budget and Economic and Social Plan once they are approved by the Assembly of the Republic. The Council of Ministers also directs government sectors (especially health and education), labor policy, social security policy, and housing.Constitution of Mozambique , Articles 150, 154, and 155.
Legislative branch
The legislature of Mozambique's national government is unicamerical, so the Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República) is the only legislative chamber. It has 250 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation. A political party or coalition must get at least five percent of the vote to be eligible for a seat in the Assembly of the Republic.
The Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic (also called the President of the Assembly of the Republic) is elected among the members of the assembly through the assembly's vote. The speaker is responsible for convening the assembly and its Standing Commission; representing the assembly publicly and internationally; signing laws before submitting them for enactment; promoting relations between the Assembly of the Republic and provincial assemblies; ordering and signing public resolutions from the assembly, and ensuring compliance with the assembly's decisions. Vice Presidents of the Assembly of the Republic are nominated by the parties with the greatest representation in the assembly, then elected by the assembly members. They can take up the speaker's duties in the case of absence or disability. The latest Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic is Margarida Ambugy Talapa, whose term started in January 2025.
Legislation can be introduced by individual members, parliamentary committees or groups, the President, and government members. Legislation is most often proposed by the executive branch. It is passed by simple majority vote.
The assembly has eight departmental commissions/committees: Constitutional Affairs, Human Rights and Legality; International Relations; Petitions; Planning and Budget; Social Affairs, Gender and Environmental; Public Administration, Local Government and Media; Agriculture, Rural Development, Economic Activities and Services; and Defense and Public Order. There is also one house management committee called the Parliamentary Ethics Committee. There is also the Standing Commission which remains active even while the rest of the assembly is not in session.
Judicial branch The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, Constitutional Council, Administrative Tribunal, the Superior Council of the Judiciary and provincial, district, and municipal courts.
Supreme Court The Supreme Court is the highest court in Mozambique on criminal and civil matters along with matters not assigned to other courts like the Administrative Trubinal and Constitutional Council. The Supreme Court's judges are elected by the legislature. The President of the Supreme Court and Vice President of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President of the Republic and ratified by the Assembly of the Republic. Supreme Court judges are nominated by the President of the Republic at the recommendation of the Superior Council of the Judiciary. There is a minimum of seven judges. Criminal cases may have their initial trial before the Supreme Court or they can be appealed by a lower court to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the final court for appeals.
Constitutional Council