Mozambique: Former president praises role of diplomacy in restoring the confidence of international financial and economic institutions in the country

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Mozambique: Former president praises role of diplomacy in restoring the confidence of international financial and economic institutions in the country

8:06 CAT | 04 Jun 2025

File photo: O País

Former Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi highlighted on Tuesday the role of diplomacy in restoring the confidence of international financial and economic institutions in the country, calling on diplomats to continue promoting Mozambique.

“I think you remember when the financial world abandoned us for many reasons, but your actions, the actions of the diplomacy you represent, were fantastic in helping us regain the trust of these partners,” said the former Mozambican head of state, as he received the Association of Diplomats of Mozambique (ADIMO), which is celebrating 50 years of Mozambican diplomacy since independence on 25 June 1975.

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were among several international partners that suspended direct financial aid to the Mozambican State Budget in 2016, with both committing to ad hoc financial aid in the context of specific disasters and emergencies, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, cyclones Kenneth and Idai, in 2019, and the humanitarian crisis caused by armed violence in Cabo Delgado.

The international partners suspended aid following the hidden debt scandal, which involved several members of the government led by Armando Guebuza, including former Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, then Minister of Defence, the area in which the public companies that contracted this financing operated.

The institutions mentioned resumed aid in 2022, during Filipe Nyusi’s second term as president of Mozambique.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the meeting with ADIMO, Filipe Nyusi stressed that Mozambican diplomacy had managed to “maintain” confidence and build “credit” with financial institutions.

“We made a lot of effort and paid back the World Bank, the IMF and some partners in the international community. Even the issue of securing the first gas platform, which is already producing something (…) through diplomacy we managed to convince them, because for that platform to come here (…) we had to go to Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, discuss [with] the gas buyers, nothing could start without a deal. The house of diplomacy conducted that diplomacy,” he added.

The former president reminded diplomats that the country is rich in various resources and called for everyone’s commitment to promoting its potential.

“Not selling in the wrong sense, but promoting, marketing, that is the big task (…) we have the land, our wealth is in the land, in the soil, and now, more than ever, it is in the sea. Therefore, the sea must be protected, defended and recognised,” concluded Nyusi.

Filipe Nyusi served two terms as president (2015-2024) and was succeeded by Daniel Chapo, who won the elections on 9 October last year, also supported by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, in power since 1975).

In February, the new government received “guarantees” from international institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank and the UN for financial aid for development projects in agriculture, infrastructure, health, education and governance, according to an official statement.

The World Bank has more than 40 projects underway in the country, worth over $7 billion (approximately €6.6 billion), under its partnership with the country. These projects focus on sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth, as well as strengthening human capital, particularly in the areas of education, health, and social protection.

Source: Lusa