The first people to inhabit Mozambique were the Bushmen. Between 200 a 300 AD, the Bantu, a group with different ethnic traits but with similar characteristics, migrated from the Great Lake to the North and pushed the local people into the poorer areas in the South. Towards the end of the VI century, the Swahili-Arabs established trading posts to trade for gold, copper and iron. The Portuguese reached Mozambique in the XV century, with the arrival of Pero Covilha on the coast and the landing of Vasco da Gama on the Ilha de Mocambique (Island of Mozambique).

From 1502 up until the middle of the XVIII century, Portuguese interests in Mozambique were controlled by the Portuguese India administration. Right from the outset, the Portuguese built "feitorias", or trading posts. These were followed by the fort of Sofala built in 1505 on the coast, and the fort on Ilha de Mozambique built in 1507. Only years later, in an attempt to take over the gold producing areas, did they venture inland and establish new trading posts. These trading posts were succeeded, at the end of the XVII century in the Vale do Zambeze, by "prazos" or privately owned agricultural estates. These lands were either donated or conquered, as the case maybe. This period can be considered as the beginning of Portuguese colonization in Mozambique.

The "prazos" were discontinued in 1832, by royal decree, and the emergence of fiefdoms initiated the slave trade, which continued up to, and even after, the abolition of slavery in the Colonies in 1869. The division of Africa between the European powers, determined in the Berlin Conference of 1884/1885, compelled the Portuguese to maintain permanent occupation of the territories assigned to them. Financial and military difficulties made it impossible for Portugal to maintain its occupation, consequently large areas of land were leased to private companies who became notorious for forced labor practices. These companies controlled the agricultural resources as well as manual labor up until the 1930. Even so, colonial occupation was never a peaceful process. Various tribal chiefs such as Mawewe, Ngungunhana and Komala showed strong resistance right into the XX century. Just as had happened with the other Portuguese colonies, Mozambique also rose up against Portuguese colonial rule. On the 25 September 1964, armed fighting broke out led by FRELIMO - The Mozambique Liberation Front - This party was a joint force of three movements that had organized themselves in exile.

The first leader of the movement was Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane and after his death on the 3rd of February 1969, Samora Moises Machel assumed leadership to become the first President of the Republic of Mozambique on the 25th of June 1975. In 1977, civil war broke out, between FRELIMO and RENAMO (National Resistance Party of Mozambique) and lasted for 15 years, until 1992, when a peace accord was finally signed by both parties.

The first elections took place in 1994 and victory was obtained by Presidente Joaquim Alberto Chissano who had succeeded Samora Machel as party leader and President after Samora Machel died in a plane crash, in neighbouring South Africa. Mozambique today is a democratic country holding its own elections as foreseen in the Constitution. The last elections ran smoothly in December 2004. Armando Emilio Guebuza, the Frelimo leader was elected President.