South Africa and Mozambique Sign Nkomati Accord.

The end of Portuguese colonial rule in 1974 and the subsequent independence of Mozambique had a significant impact on South African-Mozambican relations. During Portuguese rule, South Africa’s regional strategy was based on the existence of buffer states friendly to the apartheid regime. South Africa maintained a close alliance with the colonial governments and supplied them with various forms of assistance, including considerable military support. Relations with Mozambique, however, deteriorated as the new Marxist government under President Samora Machel highly criticized South Africa’s racist policies and provided sanctuary and support for the African National Congress (ANC), the movement committed to overthrowing the South African regime. The new stance adopted by President Machel prompted a response from South Africa that would affect the course of South African-Mozambican relations until the peace treaty of 1994 officially ended the civil war in Mozambique.