Mozambique

Mozambique is located in Southeast Africa, bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini (Swaziland) and South Africa to the southwest. The sovereign state is separated from the Comoros, Mayotte and Madagascar by the Mozambique Channel in the east. Mozambique's capital and largest city is Maputo (known as Lourenzo Marquez from 1876 to 1976).

Between the first and fifth centuries AD, Bantu-speaking people migrated to present-day Mozambique from the north and west. Northern Mozambique is in the Indian Ocean trade winds. Between the 7th and 11th centuries, a series of Swahili port cities arose here, contributing to a distinct Swahili culture and language. During the late Middle Ages, these cities were visited by traders from Somalia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia and India.

Vasco da Gama's journey in 1498 marked the arrival of the Portuguese, who began a gradual process of colonization and settlement in 1505. After more than four centuries of Portuguese rule, Mozambique gained independence in 1975. Soon after that became the People's Republic of Mozambique. After only two years of independence, the country plunged into an intense and protracted civil war from 1977 to 1992. In 1994, Mozambique held its first multiparty elections. Since then Mozambique has remained a relatively stable presidential republic, albeit at a low level. the intensity of the insurgency.

Mozambique is endowed with rich and vast natural resources. The country's economy is mainly based on agriculture. Still, the industry is growing, primarily food and beverage processing, chemical production, and aluminum and oil production. The tourism sector is also expanding. South Africa is Mozambique's leading trading partner and source of foreign direct investment, while Belgium, Brazil, Portugal and Spain are also among the country's most important economic partners. Since 2001, Mozambique's average annual GDP growth has been one of the highest in the world. However, the country remains one of the world's poorest and most underdeveloped countries, ranking low in GDP per capita, human development, inequality, and life expectancy.

Mozambique's only official language is Portuguese, spoken primarily as a second language by about half of the population. Common native languages ​​include Makhuwa, Sena, and Swahili. The country's population of about 29 million consists mainly of the Bantu people. The largest religion in Mozambique is Christianity, with significant minorities practicing Islam and African traditional religions. Mozambique is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Community of Portuguese Countries, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Southern African Development Community and an observer at La Francophonie.