FRELIMO (Front for the Liberation of Mozambique) is the dominant political party in Mozambique. Founded in 1962, FRELIMO began as an anti-colonial movement dedicated to gaining independence from Portuguese rule. Following independence in 1975, FRELIMO established a single-party state, initially adopting a socialist model under the leadership of Samora Machel, Mozambique’s first president.
Since independence, FRELIMO has been the ruling party, with its members holding the presidency continuously. Over the years, the party has overseen Mozambique’s transition to a market-based economy and multiparty democracy. FRELIMO retains significant support, due in part to its historical role in the independence movement and its continued influence in Mozambique’s institutions.
In recent years, FRELIMO has faced growing competition from other political groups, particularly from the centre-right RENAMO (Mozambican National Resistance), with some opposition parties and civil society organizations alleging electoral manipulation and the undermining of democratic practices in the 2024 elections.