Peace and National Reconciliation Day
Sunday, October 4, 2026
In Mozambique, every 4 October is a national public holiday called Peace and National Reconciliation Day. The holiday marks the end of the over 15-year long civil war that ravaged the country beginning in 1977. In 2026, Peace and National Reconciliation Day falls on Sunday 4 October. The holiday will be on Monday 4 October in 2027. Immediately after the independence war against Portugal and the recognition of independence in 1975, a struggle began over who would rule Mozambique. The pro-Communist rebel group (Mozambique Liberation Front) took charge in 1977, and the pro-Democratic rebel group (Mozambique National Resistance) immediately fought back. Civil war raged for 15 years. But in 1990, after the pro-Communist president of Mozambique died in an aviation accident, peace talks commenced. By 4 October, 1992, the two sides signed a peace agreement in Rome that ended the war. To commemorate the coming of peace after seemingly endless war, 4 October was designated Peace and National Reconciliation Day. The largest events of the day take place in Maputo, but there are smaller events all over the country.
History
The holiday marks the end of the over 15-year long civil war that ravaged the country beginning in 1977. Immediately after the independence war against Portugal and the recognition of independence in 1975, a struggle began over who would rule Mozambique. Civil war raged for 15 years. By 4 October, 1992, the two sides signed a peace agreement in Rome that ended the war. To commemorate the coming of peace after seemingly endless war, 4 October was designated Peace and National Reconciliation Day
How It's Celebrated
In Mozambique, every 4 October is a national public holiday called Peace and National Reconciliation Day. The holiday marks the end of the over 15-year long civil war that ravaged the country beginning in 1977. The holiday will be on Monday 4 October in 2027. To commemorate the coming of peace after