Mozambique: Religious Peacebuilders Broker End to Civil War

Abstract

This case study investigates an intriguing instance of religion being used to settle a nonreligious conflict, in which the Catholic lay Community of Sant’Egidio brokered an end to the civil war in Mozambique (1975-1990). In examining the conflict and its resolution, this study addresses five questions: What were the historical origins of the Mozambican Civil War? How were religious actors involved in the conflict and its negotiated resolution? How important were international religious and political forces? What role did socioeconomic factors play? How did religion intersect with these other factors in driving outcomes? The case study features a core text, a timeline of key events, a guide to relevant political parties, nongovernmental organizations, and religious groups, and a list of scholarly sources for more detailed information.