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Explanation
There was a long colonial war against the Portuguese, who left
in 1974.
Following independence the liberation movement FRELIMO (Front
for the Liberation of Mozambique) took power.
As the war in neighboring Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) grew more
intense the Rhodesian government tried to destabilize Mozambique
by arming an anti-government force then called COREMO now RENAMO.
On the fall of Rhodesia this force was taken over by the South
Africans. Their propagandists claimed they were fighting against
Marxism but on the ground they behaved with extreme brutality
and showed no knowledge of political aims. It can be assumed
that the South African controllers wanted to weaken Mozambique
and keep it poor and dependent. There may have been support from
extreme right wing American foundations who also operated in
Angola and Nicaragua.
FRELIMO gave up Marxism
but the war went on. It resulted in a famine and thousands of
casualties including legs blown off by mines supplied by South
Africa. Many refugees fled to neighboring Malawi.
By 1994 the war seemed to have ended and the two forces are
unifying. South Africa's change to a democratic regime is probably
the main cause - the supply tap has finally been turned off.
Malawi's change also is effective. But there are hundreds of
thousands of traumatized people, both victims and soldiers.
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