As promised, this is the first of several installments on both the up side and the down side of Africa's struggle to find a reasonably comfortable niche in the New World economy. Excerpt from CAN AFRICA CLAIM THE 21ST CENTURY - by African Development Bank, African Economic Research Consortium, Global Coalition for Africa, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and World Bank MOZAMBIQUE offers a striking and unlikely example of the reconstruction of national governance institutions after a brutal civil war. Colonized by Portugal in the 16th century, it served primarily as a colony of last resort for that country's poor. Political discontent with Portuguese rule produced a guerrilla war and victory in 1974, led by the current ruling party FRELIMO. But before long FRELIMO's failing Marxist program was sabotaged by RENAMO, a guerilla force supported by Rhodesia and South Africa. The indiscriminate destruction of infrastructure and killing of civilians by RENAMO and by FRELIMO counteroffensives left most of rural Mozambique a vast killing field. Discussions between the two sides began in 1989, leading to full-fledged negotiations in 1992. Unlike talks elsewhere in Africa, neither FRELIMO nor RENAMO sought a zero-sum solution. Negotiations produced new democratic constitution, multiparty elections in 1994, full demobilization of both armies, and the building of a new party-neutral army. Though not part of government, RENAMO enjoys a share of state resources and local support in its central Mozambique bailiwick. A second round of elections was held in 1999. Peace and economic liberalization have changed Mozambique beyond recognition. Though still very poor, it was one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa in the 1990s. Strong macroeconomic management has attracted considerable external aid and higher private investment than many of its wealthier neighbors. Much remains to be done, however, especially in the countryside-and especially with the massive destruction wrought by recent floods. END ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------