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The difficulties of consolidating peace and democracy: the case of Mozambique
09/09/2005 By Francisco Rey Marcos
Mozambique’s experience after the signing of the peace agreements in 1992 and the holding of the first elections in 1994, can be assessed as positive.
Since then, the peacebuilding and consolidation process has followed its course and, whilst its problems have been and continue to be many, Mozambique has not slipped back into the path of violence.
It has implemented drastic economic reforms and has been proclaimed by many international organisms as a success story, that is, it is considered one of the few consolidated experiences of peace on the African continent.
This appraisal must be put into context because during those very same years other peace agreements were negotiated, in Angola, for example, which were not fulfilled by the parties and as a result the armed conflict was renewed.
Nevertheless, the formalization of peace did not bring about improvements in the living conditions of the majority of the population and the so-called “peace dividend” has not had a positive outcome for the country’s poorest sectors.
The economy has grown an average of 8 percent annually, but not only has the poverty index not diminished, it continues to be among the world’s highest. Absolute poverty is around 60 percent and there is a subsistence economy in rural areas that is extremely dependent on climatic conditions, which have been very bad in past years.
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Keywords
Conflict resolution Mozambique Peace process Post conflictRelated publications
Bio author: Francisco Rey Marcos
Degree in Biology with specialisation in public health and MA in International Relations. He has worked in the Spanish branch of the Red Cross and is lecturer of several postgraduate courses. Adviser and consultant for non governmental organizations such as OXFAM, Medecins Sans Frontieres and Action Against Hunger.
