Mozambique
25 June 1975
- Sovereignty from
- Portugal
- Marked as
- Independence Day
- Years sovereign
- 51
The struggle
Portugal treated Mozambique as a settler province and used forced cotton cultivation and contract labour for South African mines. FRELIMO launched an armed struggle in 1964 under Eduardo Mondlane, who was assassinated by letter bomb in 1969; Samora Machel took over. The Carnation Revolution in Lisbon opened the way and independence came on 25 June 1975.
Key people
Eduardo Mondlane
1920–1969
Founded FRELIMO; assassinated in 1969
Samora Machel
1933–1986
Led the liberation war; first president
Josina Machel
1945–1971
Commander of FRELIMO's women's detachment
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