Editing Mozambique (section)

===Democratic era (1993–present)===
[[File:Helicopter over flooded Central Mozambique.jpg|thumb|A [[Sikorsky MH-53|US helicopter]] flying over the flooded [[Limpopo River]] during the [[2000 Mozambique flood]]]]
Mozambique held elections in 1994, which were accepted by most political parties as free and fair although still contested by many nationals and observers alike. FRELIMO won, under Joaquim Chissano, while RENAMO, led by [[Afonso Dhlakama]], ran as the official opposition.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Keller|first=Bill|date=28 October 1994|title=Mozambican Elections Thrown in Doubt (Published 1994)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/28/world/mozambican-elections-thrown-in-doubt.html|access-date=12 November 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=17 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117133635/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/28/world/mozambican-elections-thrown-in-doubt.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Frelimo {{!}} History & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Frelimo|access-date=12 November 2020|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118144259/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Frelimo|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1995, Mozambique joined the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], becoming, at the time, the only member nation that had never been part of the [[British Empire]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Commonwealth {{!}} History, Members, & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Commonwealth-association-of-states|access-date=12 November 2020|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107233935/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Commonwealth-association-of-states|url-status=live}}</ref>

By mid-1995, over 1.7&nbsp;million refugees who had sought asylum in neighbouring countries had returned to Mozambique, part of the largest repatriation witnessed in sub-Saharan Africa. An additional four million [[internally displaced person]]s had returned to their homes.<ref name="BilateralRelationsFactSheet" /> In December 1999, Mozambique held elections for a second time since the civil war, which were again won by FRELIMO. RENAMO accused FRELIMO of fraud and threatened to return to civil war but backed down after taking the matter to the Supreme Court and losing.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mozambique: 1999 Election review|url=https://www.eisa.org/wep/moz1999election2.htm|access-date=12 November 2020|website=www.eisa.org|archive-date=13 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113005644/https://www.eisa.org/wep/moz1999election2.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Frelimo's election win to be challenged|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/frelimo-s-election-win-to-be-challenged-1.263997|access-date=12 November 2020|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301040144/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/frelimo-s-election-win-to-be-challenged-1.263997|url-status=live}}</ref>

In early 2000, a cyclone caused [[2000 Mozambique flood|widespread flooding]], killing hundreds and devastating the already precarious infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mozambique: How disaster unfolded|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/655227.stm|access-date=12 November 2020|work=BBC News|archive-date=21 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021231558/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/655227.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> There were widespread suspicions that foreign aid resources had been diverted by powerful leaders of FRELIMO. [[Carlos Cardoso (journalist)|Carlos Cardoso]], a journalist investigating these allegations, was murdered,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hanlon|first=Joseph|date=24 November 2000|title=Carlos Cardoso|url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/nov/24/guardianobituaries2|access-date=12 November 2020|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=9 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509024930/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/nov/24/guardianobituaries2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mozambique News Agency – AIM Reports|url=http://www.poptel.org.uk/mozambique-news/newsletter/Cardoso11.html|access-date=12 November 2020|website=www.poptel.org.uk|archive-date=13 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070413042025/http://www.poptel.org.uk/mozambique-news/newsletter/Cardoso11.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and his death was never satisfactorily explained.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 March 2002|title=Attacks on the Press 2001: Mozambique|url=https://cpj.org/2002/03/attacks-on-the-press-2001-mozambique/|access-date=12 November 2020|website=Committee to Protect Journalists|language=en-US|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301040145/https://cpj.org/2002/03/attacks-on-the-press-2001-mozambique/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Indicating in 2001 that he would not run for a third term,<ref>{{Cite news|date=9 May 2001|title=No third term for Mozambique president|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1321597.stm|access-date=12 November 2020|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116185753/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1321597.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Chissano criticised leaders who stayed on longer than he had, which was generally seen as a reference to Zambian President [[Frederick Chiluba]] and Zimbabwean President [[Robert Mugabe]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=afrol News: Mozambican President not going for third term|url=http://afrol.com/News2001/moz014_chissano_3term.htm|access-date=12 November 2020|website=afrol.com|archive-date=10 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810193955/http://www.afrol.com/News2001/moz014_chissano_3term.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Presidential and National Assembly elections took place on 1–2 December 2004. FRELIMO candidate [[Armando Guebuza]] won<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wines (NYT)|first=Michael|date=18 December 2004|title=World Briefing {{!}} Africa: Mozambique: Election Winner Declared (Published 2004)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/18/world/world-briefing-africa-mozambique-election-winner-declared.html|access-date=12 November 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112211715/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/18/world/world-briefing-africa-mozambique-election-winner-declared.html|url-status=live}}</ref> with 64% of the popular vote, and Dhlakama received 32% of the popular vote. FRELIMO won 160 seats in Parliament, with a coalition of RENAMO and several small parties winning the 90 remaining seats. Guebuza was inaugurated as the President of Mozambique on 2 February 2005<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005|title=New President Pledges Unrelenting Fight Against Poverty|url=https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2005/02/02/new-president-pledges-unrelenting-fight-against-poverty|access-date=22 December 2023|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222154347/https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2005/02/02/new-president-pledges-unrelenting-fight-against-poverty|url-status=live}}</ref> and served two five-year terms. His successor, [[Filipe Nyusi]], became the fourth President of Mozambique on 15 January 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|date=19 March 2019|title=Mozambique profile – Timeline|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13890720|access-date=12 November 2020|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108114553/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13890720|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=15 January 2015|title=Mozambique swears in new president, opposition stays away|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/mozambique-president-idUSL6N0UU2EA20150115|access-date=12 November 2020|archive-date=13 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113071811/https://www.reuters.com/article/mozambique-president-idUSL6N0UU2EA20150115|url-status=live}}</ref>

From 2013 to 2019, a low-intensity [[RENAMO insurgency (2013–2021)|insurgency by RENAMO]] occurred, mainly in the country's central and northern regions. On 5 September 2014, Guebuza and Dhlakama signed the Accord on Cessation of Hostilities, which brought the military hostilities to a halt and allowed both parties to concentrate on the general elections to be held in October 2014. However, after the general elections, a new political crisis emerged. RENAMO did not recognise the validity of the election results and demanded the control of six provinces – Nampula, Niassa, Tete, Zambezia, Sofala, and Manica – where they claimed to have won a majority.<ref name=":02">{{cite journal|url=https://www.academia.edu/19787524|title=Provincial Autonomy: The Territorial Dimension of Peace in Mozambique|first=Natália|last=Bueno|journal=GIGA Focus|access-date=23 August 2016|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813172002/https://www.academia.edu/19787524|url-status=live}}</ref> About 12,000 refugees fled to [[Malawi]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/07/mozambican-refugees-stuck-160713073920585.html|title=Mozambican refugees stuck between somewhere and nowhere|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=23 July 2016|date=22 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723161013/http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/07/mozambican-refugees-stuck-160713073920585.html|archive-date=23 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR]], [[Médecins Sans Frontières|Doctors Without Borders]], and [[Human Rights Watch]] reported that government forces had torched villages and carried out [[summary execution]]s and [[Wartime sexual violence|sexual abuses]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/05/06/mozambiques-invisible-civil-war-renamo-frelimo-dhlakama-nyusi/|title=Mozambique's Invisible Civil War|publisher=foreign policy|access-date=6 May 2016|date=22 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507095840/http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/05/06/mozambiques-invisible-civil-war-renamo-frelimo-dhlakama-nyusi/|archive-date=7 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2019, President Filipe Nyusi was re-elected after a landslide victory in [[2019 Mozambican general election|general election]]. FRELIMO won 184 seats, RENAMO got 60 seats and the MDM party received the remaining 6 seats in the National Assembly. Opposition did not accept the results because of allegations of fraud and irregularities. FRELIMO secured two-thirds majority in parliament which allowed FRELIMO to re-adjust the constitution without needing the agreement of the opposition.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mozambique: President Filipe Nyusi re-elected in landslide victory|date=27 October 2019|url=https://www.dw.com/en/mozambique-president-filipe-nyusi-re-elected-in-landslide-victory/a-51009484|access-date=2 June 2021|work=Deutsche Welle|language=en-GB|archive-date=14 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214125315/https://www.dw.com/en/mozambique-president-filipe-nyusi-re-elected-in-landslide-victory/a-51009484|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2017, the country has faced an [[Insurgency in Cabo Delgado|ongoing insurgency by Islamist groups]].<ref>{{cite web|title='Jihadists behead' Mozambique villagers|website=BBC News|date=29 May 2018|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44289512|access-date=11 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613065006/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44289512|archive-date=13 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Religious unrest in Mozambique – in pictures|website=the Guardian|date=30 August 2019|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2019/aug/30/religious-unrest-in-mozambique-in-pictures|access-date=11 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111170314/https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2019/aug/30/religious-unrest-in-mozambique-in-pictures|archive-date=11 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mozambique country profile|website=BBC News|date=19 March 2019|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13890416|access-date=11 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110063053/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13890416|archive-date=10 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2020, [[Islamic State|ISIL]] insurgents captured and briefly occupied [[Vamizi Island]] in the Indian Ocean.<ref>{{cite news|title=ISIS take over luxury islands popular among A-list celebrities|url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/isis-take-over-luxury-islands-popular-among-alist-celebrities/news-story/27687dc58907ec892f4a29ae43d5d858|work=News.com.au|date=18 September 2020|access-date=19 September 2020|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920054512/https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/isis-take-over-luxury-islands-popular-among-alist-celebrities/news-story/27687dc58907ec892f4a29ae43d5d858|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hanlon|first=Joseph|date=29 September 2020|title=Mozambique: Police Claim Control Of Empty Mocimboa, From A Distance|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202009290847.html|access-date=2 June 2021|website=allAfrica.com|language=en|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613143637/https://allafrica.com/stories/202009290847.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2021, dozens of civilians were killed and 35,000 others were displaced after [[Battle of Palma|Islamist rebels seized]] the city of [[Palma, Mozambique|Palma]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 March 2021|title=Rebels leave beheaded bodies in streets of Mozambique town|url=https://apnews.com/article/mozambique-palma-rebels-beheaded-bodies-e0b0a68eec8f322ebbcaf13384f890fd|access-date=30 March 2021|website=AP NEWS|archive-date=29 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329235057/https://apnews.com/article/mozambique-palma-rebels-beheaded-bodies-e0b0a68eec8f322ebbcaf13384f890fd|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=29 March 2021|title=Mozambique: Dozens dead after militant assault on Palma|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56557623|access-date=30 March 2021|archive-date=29 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329001614/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56557623|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2021, nearly 4,000 Mozambicans fled their villages after an intensification of jihadist attacks in [[Niassa Province|Niassa]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Thousands flee Niassa as jihadist attacks spread to other parts of Mozambique|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/Africa/News/thousands-flee-niassa-as-jihadist-attacks-spread-to-other-parts-of-mozambique-20211231|access-date=31 December 2021|website=News24|language=en-US|archive-date=31 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231160241/https://www.news24.com/news24/Africa/News/thousands-flee-niassa-as-jihadist-attacks-spread-to-other-parts-of-mozambique-20211231|url-status=live}}</ref>