SAMORA MOISES MACHEL - MOZAMBIQUE

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06762107
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 29, 2019
• Case Number: F-2018-01461
• Publication Date: September 9, 1985

Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06762107
IF
641
Samora Moises MACHEL
(Phonetic: maSHEL)
President (since June 1975)
Addressed as: Mr. President
MOZAMBIQUE
Samora Machel, President since
independence, publicly describes himself as a
Marxist-Leninist, his
political and economic decisions are often
pragmatic and nonideological. He has served as
president of the ruling Front for the Liberation of
Mozambique (FRELIMO) since May 1970 and
theoretically shares power with the other members
of the FRELIMO hierarchy. In fact, he dominates
the regime and relinquishes only as much power as
he chooses, report US diplomats his
authority is unchallenged and that he is widely
viewed as the symbol of national unity.
Machcl is enormously popular in Mozambique. despite a widespread insurgency, a poor
economy, and the so far disappointing results of the 1984 nonaggression pact (the Nkomati
Accord) with South Africa. He has been careful not to alienate the military this most
important constituency) and has endeavored to build a consensus for his foreign policy
initiatives within the FRELIMO hierarchy in an effort to isolate the hardline ideologues in
the regime. In the past few years he has sought to improve his ties to the West. particularly
to the United States, while simultaneously attempting not to antagonize the Soviets, from
whom he. receives extensive military aid he wants the United
States to continue to play an active role in the region and that hc deeply appreciates US
humanitarian aid and would like to receive US military assistance
Early Life and Career
After attending a Mission school in Mozambique in the late 1950s. Machel worked in a
1 hospital and took nursing classes at night. He joined FRELIMO in 1963 and subsequently
received nine months of guerrilla training in Algeria. He then went to Tanzania to train 250
01 guerrillas, whom he later led in the initial attack against the Portuguese colonial government
in his homeland in 1964. The following year Machel assumed the task of supervising thc
FRELIMO training camp at Kongwa, Tanzania, and by 1966 he had become chief of
guerrilla operations�a post he held until the end of the war in 1974. He did not participate
directly in the transition government that oversaw Portuguese withdrawal from
Mozambique (September 1974-June 1975). Instead, from FRELIMO headquarters in
Tanzania, he laid the plans for his country's first independent government and returned to
Mozambique only the day before his inauguration as President. Currently, in addition to his
other duties, he is Commander in Chief of the Mozambican Armed Forces. He holds the
military rank of marshal.
Personal Data
Energetic.
flamboyant, and charismatic, he is an outstanaing o.ator anu a wittyc3nversationalist. An
adept statesman and politician, he is able to calmly discuss ideological and practical
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differences and has shown considerable pragmatism and flexibility in dealing with
international issues.
he is also a good listener and is usually courteous and patient in hearing out others
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In 1977 he traveled to New York and met President
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Jimmy Carter at the 32nd Session of the UN General Assembly. He has made several visits
to China and the Soviet Union and held talks with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in
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( 1 1(b)(')
((b)(3)
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March.
has had eight children by four
women�his deceased first wife, two common-law wives, and his current wife. Two of his
children are by his current wife. Graca, who serves as Minister of Education and Culture.
Three of his children visited the United States in July of this year. Machel, who will be 52
on 29 September, is a physical fitness enthusiast and likes to jog, do calesthenics, and wat..1,
boxing. He speaks Swahili. Portuguese, several tribal languages, and some English. French.
Chinese, and Russian. He is a member of the Shangan ethnic group.
9 September 1985
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Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06762107