South Africa - Mozambique relations in the 1990s

On the 27th and 28th of October 1994, Mozambique will experience its first national multi-party elections in living memory. This event, although the culmination of a long process of negotiations between former adversaries Frelimo and Renamo, will be overshadowed by other considerations: among them, the daunting task of rebuilding a shattered society, revitalising the national economy, and rethinking Mozambique's place in the community of Southern African states. Given its dominant position, it is perhaps inevitable that neighbouring South Africa will play a prominent role in all of these developments. In light of the remarkable interplay of forces in the transition processes evident in both countries, the aim of this essay is to report on current developments in Mozambique and relations between it and South Africa.