MAPUTO — Today, a new (virtual and upside down - vatou please fix) flag is raised over Government House. We do not speak as rebels or as conquerors. We speak as a country grasping our fate, and future in our own hands. The time has come for Mozambique to step out from the support of South Africa and stand independent.
The fall of South Africa marks the end of a (war) era. We mourn the suffering endured by its people and honour the generations whose labour, sacrifice, and vision helped shape this land and the entire globe. Our histories remain intertwined, and many within this government still call South Africa their birthplace.
Let there be no misunderstanding.
Mozambique's independence is not the product of South Africa's defeat, nor is it an attempt to exploit the outcome of war. Our decision arises from a conviction that the people of Mozambique must shape their own future, govern their own affairs, and speak with their own voice. The war merely brought history to its conclusion sooner than any of us expected.
We extend our hand in friendship to the South African people, just as we hope they will one day extend theirs to us. Independence does not erase our shared past, nor does it prevent a future founded on mutual respect and cooperation.
The Provisional Government of the Mozambican Free State is founded on continuity, stability, and practical government.
We inherit functioning institutions, experienced administrators, and the responsibility to preserve order during a period of profound regional change.
Our immediate priorities are clear:
Security. We will defend our borders and ensure that Mozambique is never used as a staging ground for conflict or foreign interference.
Economic independence. Mozambique's ports, resources, and trade will be managed in the interests of the Mozambican people.
Good governance. We will uphold the rule of law within our borders, and negotiate and collaborate in good faith with our neighbors and allies.
Today, Mozambique takes its place among the nations of the world.
We seek diplomatic relations with every country prepared to engage with us in good faith. We welcome trade, investment, scientific cooperation, and cultural exchange, wherever they may come from.
Our borders will remain open to those seeking to build honest lives in peace. We welcome immigrants who wish to contribute to the growth and prosperity of our nation, including those from Australia seeking a new beginning.
We also offer refuge to those displaced by war. South Africans forced from their homes by the recent conflict will find safety here. The same welcome extends to all those from across Africa who have been driven from their communities by proxy wars, foreign intervention, or political upheaval. Those seeking peace will find compassion; those willing to help build this nation will find opportunity.
The road ahead will not be easy, but it will be our own.
— The Government of the Mozambican Free State
Maputo