legal basis for recognizing the need to grant asylum and refugee status to foreign
nationals and stateless persons.
168. The Republic of Mozambique ratified the 31 January 1967 Protocol Relating to
the Status of Refugees and the OAU Convention of 10 September 1969 relating to
specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa. Having been incorporated into the
country’s juridical framework, these instruments form the legal basis for
recognizing the grant of asylum and refugee status to foreign nationals and
stateless persons by the State of Mozambique.
169. Given its strategic geographic position, and its sound coexistence and receptivity
policy, Mozambique has been a privileged country for the wave of refugees from
conflict zones in the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes Region and Zimbabwe. The
government has been cooperating with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations, providing assistance to refugees
and asylum seekers. Mozambique harbors about 8,737 refugees and exiles from
Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Somalia. The
refugees live in the Marratane Refugee Centre, Nampula. Once asylum and
refugee status is granted, the government supplies food and medicine to exiles and
refugees, while guaranteeing to their children the right to education and
employment.
170. Mozambique is faced with major challenges in this area:
Improving sheltering conditions and the screening of refugees and asylum
seekers;
Creating conditions for sheltering Mozambique nationals repatriated from
neighboring countries;
Expanding protection of refugees.
Article 13: The Right to Participate in Public Affairs
171. In terms of the Charter, citizens shall have the right to participate in the public
affairs of their country, either directly or through freely chosen representatives;
citizens shall have the right of equal access to the public service of their country,
and to access public property and services in equality of all persons before the law.
172. This is a right and duty of every citizen, enshrined in Articles 53 and 73 of the
CRM, whereby the State promotes and supports the active participation of citizens
in the development and strengthening of the economy: “1. Every citizen shall be
free to establish or belong to political parties. 2. Membership of political parties
shall be voluntary and stems from the right of citizens to espouse the same
political ideals” (Article 53) and “1. Political parties shall reflect political
pluralism, contribute towards the shaping and expression of the will of the people,
and operate as a fundamental instrument for the democratic participation of
citizens in the running of the country. 2. Political parties shall be structured and
operate under democratic principles”.
Combined Report from the Republic of Mozambique to the ACHPR, 1999-2010
30