This is the complete list of all the Presidents of Mozambique from 1987 till date, Including their political affiliations:
No | President | Term of Office | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Samora Machel (1933-1986) | 25 June 1975 - 19 October 1986 | FRELIMO |
2 | Joaquim Chissano (1939-) | 6 November 1986 - 2 February 2005 | FRELIMO |
3 | Armando Guebuza (1943-) | 2 February 2005 - 15 January 2015 | FRELIMO |
4 | Filipe Nyusi (1959-) | 15 January 2015 - present | FRELIMO |
How Many Presidents Does Mozambique Have?
Mozambique has had a total of four presidents since it gained independence in 1975.
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Who Was The First President Of Mozambique?
The first president of Mozambique was Samora Machel. He was born on September 29, 1933. Machel played a major part in Mozambique’s fight for independence from Portuguese rule.
He was a leader of the Mozambique Liberation Front, known as FRELIMO. This group fought against the Portuguese forces during the war for liberation.
However, Mozambique became independent on June 25, 1975. On the same day, Samora Machel was made the first president of the country.
His time as president came with many challenges. The country had suffered a lot due to many years of colonial rule and war, so Machel had a lot of work to do to rebuild it.
He wanted to turn Mozambique into a socialist state. This meant he wanted the government to take control of industries and land to help the people.
During his presidency, a civil war started in 1977. This war was mainly between Machel’s party, FRELIMO, and another group called RENAMO.
RENAMO was supported by the governments of Rhodesia and South Africa. The civil war caused a lot of pain and suffering for the people of Mozambique, leading to many deaths and displacements.
Samora Machel was known for his strong and inspiring leadership. He cared a lot about education and healthcare, having set up schools and hospitals to improve living conditions for the people.
Yet, some people criticized his government for being too strict and not allowing political opposition. Sadly, Samora Machel’s time as president ended when he died in a plane crash on October 19, 1986.
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Current President Of Mozambique
The current president of Mozambique is Filipe Nyusi. He became president for the first time in 2014 and was re-elected in 2019.
So, he is now serving his second five-year term. Nyusi is a member of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) party.
This party has been in charge of Mozambique since the country became independent in 1975. Filipe Nyusi was born in 1959 in a place called Namau in Mozambique.
He studied mechanical engineering in Tanzania and also got military training in the Soviet Union. Nyusi joined the FRELIMO party in 1986.
Before becoming president, he held several important government jobs, including being the Minister of Defense. As president, Nyusi has focused on improving Mozambique’s economy and building infrastructure, like roads and buildings.
He has also tried to improve relations with the opposition party, the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO). RENAMO fought a long civil war against FRELIMO, but now they are working on better relations.
However, Nyusi’s time as president has not been without problems. There have been allegations of corruption and human rights abuses.
In 2016, it came to light that Mozambique had taken on more than $2 billion in secret debt. This led to an economic crisis and the suspension of international aid.
Nyusi has been accused of being involved in this scandal, but he denies any wrongdoing. Despite these issues, Nyusi is still a popular figure in Mozambique.
Many people see him as a strong leader who has brought stability and economic growth to the country. However, critics say that he has also increased his power and limited political freedoms.
As Nyusi’s second term nears its end, there is much speculation about who will succeed him as president. FRELIMO is expected to choose a new candidate at its next party congress. It is unclear whether they will pick someone from Nyusi’s faction or a new face.