NAMUN 2021 The Mozambican Civil War Background Guide Welcome Letter Dear Delegates, Welcome to the 36th annual North American Model United Nations conference held, for the first time, virtually. My name is Victor, and I am the chair of this crisis committee. I am in my fourth year of undergraduate study, pursuing a specialist degree in biological physics. Though my academic career has taken me away from the realm of history and politics, I have a great deal of passion for history and politics. I have participated in Model UN conferences in the past as a delegate, but this conference marks my first time chairing a committee. As you well know, this committee takes place at the height of the Cold War in the year 1977. Two years removed from a decade long struggle for independence, the fledgling governing body of Mozambique, the Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (FRELIMO), is faced with an increasing number of guerilla attacks on farms and villages on the Rhodesian border. A new group going by the Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (RENAMO), or Mozambican National Resistance, poses a threat to the stability of FRELIMO rule in Mozambique. With enough time, this group could plunge Mozambique into another lengthy war, putting Mozambique’s development even further behind schedule. This background guide will provide a brief overview of the historical context behind this conflict and issues facing the parties involved in this conflict. I encourage you to do additional research on the topic to better understand your delegation’s position within the conflict, using this guide as a framework. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me at the committee email address. The incredible crisis staff and I look forward to working through this intriguing, complex scenario with you all, and we look forward to seeing how you will work together in this unique setting to resolve this conflict. Sincerely, 1 Victor Chu Chair- Mozambican Civil War 2 Introduction On June 25th, 1975, Mozambique celebrated its first national independence day. After centuries of Portuguese colonial rule and a gruelling, decade long guerilla war with the dictatorial Portuguese Estado Novo government, the Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (Mozambican Liberation Front or FRELIMO for short) had successfully wrested control of Mozambique from their colonial rulers. Political turmoil in Portugal had resulted in a coup d’etat that overthrew the Estado Novo,​1 ​ and the resulting junta was eager to come to terms with FRELIMO. In these negotiations, FRELIMO was granted the right to absolute rule over Mozambique as the sole governing party. This decision upset many within FRELIMO. Inspired by the “greed of [Portuguese] colonialism”​ ​2F​ RELIMO was founded by a few small revolutionary factions led by exiled dissidents of Portuguese rule. Hoping to further the cause of African nationalism, the Tanganyikan government united these groups in the early 1960s, offering a safe base of operations outside of Mozambique from where FRELIMO could safely grow.​3 ​ Led by their charismatic leader Eduardo Mondlane, FRELIMO’s guerilla warfare tactics were hugely successful in making the war costly and difficult for the faraway Estado Novo regime to fight, and in encouraging Mozambican peoples to resist Portuguese rule. Though united under one banner in the struggle for Mozambican independence, FRELIMO was far from a stable union. Though initially apolitical, as the War of Independence progressed, FRELIMO leadership began to align itself politically with the socialist politics of the growing African Nationalist movements spreading across the continent.​4 ​ Following the conclusion of the war, many within FRELIMO started to question FRELIMO rule. 1 Elizabeth Buettner, From rose-colored map to Carnation Revolution: Portugal’s overseas ​ amputations (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016), 207. ​ 2 Samora Machel, “Message of Proclamation of Independence for Mozambique,” Africa Today 22, no. ​ ​ ​ ​ 3 (1975): 5. 3 Timothy Stapleton, Front of the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) in The Encyclopedia of War ​ (Blackwell Publishing, 2011) 4 Machel, “Message of Proclamation of Independence for Mozambique,” 9. ​ ​ 3 In Portugal’s hasty exit from the war, they had ceded unilateral control of Mozambique to FRELIMO leadership and their socialist political ideology. And while FRELIMO was instrumental in securing the independence of Mozambique, some were apprehensive of exchanging one dictatorial regime for another. In addition, FRELIMO was a politically diverse organization, composed of many smaller factions operating out of different regions of the nation. As a result, the socialist politics of the FRELIMO leadership were not popular with all in the party, some remarking that FRELIMO’s avoidance of democratic elections made FRELIMO “worse than the Portuguese.”​ ​5 ​ Not wanting to concede control over the nation, and unwilling to destabilize the government of their fledgeling nation any further, FRELIMO chose to exile, imprison, or torture their political opponents.​6 ​ This course of action only alienated political dissidents further. Seeing an opportunity to destabilize a geopolitical rival, and to slow the spread of socialism and African nationalism, the white minority ruled nation of Rhodesia offered asylum to FRELIMO dissidents, originally training and employing dissidents as forward scouts for the Rhodesian military in Mozambique.​7 ​ Much like Tanganyika, Rhodesia brought dissidents together, forming the Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (RENAMO).​ ​8 ​ After two brief years of relative peace, RENAMO declared war on FRELIMO, and in a strange twist of fate, FRELIMO found itself fending off the same guerilla warfare tactics that they had employed against Portugal years prior.​9 5 Margaret Hall, “The Mozambican National Resistance Movement (RENAMO): A Study in the ​ Destruction of an African Country,” Africa: Journal of the International African Institute 60, no. 1 ​ ​ (1990): 44. 6 Victor Igreja, “Frelimo’s Political Ruling Through Violence and Memory in Postcolonial Mozambique,” Journal of Southern African Studies 36, no. 4 (2010): 783. ​ 7 Hall, “The Mozambican National Resistance Movement,” 40. 8 Lance Young, “Mozambique’s 16-Year Bloody Civil War” (Military Report, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 1991), 7. 9 Lisa Hultman, “The Power to Hurt in Civil War: The Strategic Aim of RENAMO Violence,” Journal of ​ Southern African Studies 35, no. 4 (2009): 826 ​ 4 Definitions Estado Novo:​ The Portuguese regime that replaced the Portuguese monarchy in the early 20th century. Dictatorial and deeply nationalistic, the Estado Novo held onto their colonies for decades after other imperial nations had given up theirs as an attempt to bolster their lagging economy and dwindling sense of national pride. Portuguese East Africa:​ A colonial-era name for Mozambique. Lusotropicalism: ​The flawed theory that posited that the Portuguese, unlike other European colonizers, were uniquely qualified to conduct colonialism in tropical countries due to Portugal’s tropical climate​10.​ Utilized by the Estado Novo to justify their continued involvement in Africa and Portugal. Cash Crop:​ Crops grown to sell for profit. Included cashew nuts, sugar, tea, and others​11 Tanganyika:​ Mozambique’s Northern neighbour. Now known as Tanzania. A former British colony sympathetic to the cause of African Nationalism. Served as a safe harbour for Mozambican dissidents, funding and training the organization that would go on to become FRELIMO. African Nationalism:​ A political ideology that argued against white minority rule and colonialism in Africa, and for the establishment of independent African nations ruled by African peoples. FRELIMO:​ The Frente de Libertação de Moçambique, or the Mozambican liberation front. A revolutionary group founded in Tanganyika with the purpose of establishing an independent Mozambique. Named the sole governing party by the Portuguese upon their exit from the region in 1975. 10 Miguel Vale de Almeida, “Portugal’s Colonial Complex: From Colonial Lusotropicalism to ​ Postcolonial Lusophony,” (Queen’s Postcolonial Research Forum, 2008): 5. ​ 11 “New Agriculturist: Country Profile - Mozambique.” ​ 5 Carnation Revolution:​ The peaceful coup d’etat in 1975 that resulted in the downfall of the Estado Novo. Occurred as a consequence of civil unrest due to the rule of the authoritarian Estado Novo, the exorbitant cost of the overseas war in Mozambique, and a failing domestic economy.​12 RENAMO:​ The Resistência Nacional Moçambicana, or the Mozambican National Resistance. A guerilla group dedicated to resisting FRELIMO rule. A political rival to FRELIMO that opposed FRELIMO unilateral rule and socialist policy. NIBMAR:​ No Independence Before Majority African Rule. A policy put in place by the British government, mandated that no African colony could be granted independence until African majority rule could be established. 12 Buettner, “From Rose-Coloured Map to Carnation Revolution,” 207. ​ ​ 6 Historical Background Although they have both evolved into opposed parties, RENAMO originated as a FRELIMO splinter cell. Therefore, in order to better understand the lengthy conflict between FRELIMO and RENAMO, it is imperative to first consider the conditions from which FRELIMO grew. The Colonial Era (1498 - 1926) Whereas many European powers throughout history have sought to create empires through the military conquest of their neighbours, Portugal turned to the seas to create theirs. Situated