So a storm hits Mozambique particularly hard

Last year there was a drought, which made Mozambique crumbly. Now there are the Floods, the cyclone Idai brought and buried an area almost as large as the Ticino. The country is now dependent on help from abroad. In spite of the large Gas and coal deposits Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world.

A Cocktail of political, economic and social problems is the reason why Mozambique, despite its resources wealth, one of the most poorly developed countries. The Moçambique-expert and political analyst Aslak Jangard Orre says. The majority of the population lives in rural areas with poor infrastructure, and farming only for their own needs. The crop failures can cost these people their existence.

Practically bankrupt

A poor state that it was in principle more vulnerable for natural disasters the Western industrial Nations, says Torre. The government had opted for a development strategy that focused on mega-projects, such as in coal mining,. Of direct investment from abroad had arrived when the General population hardly anything, instead, have enriched a small group.

Since independence from Portugal in 1975, Mozambique is a one-party state, in which leading members of the government party Frelimo, the political and economic Elite. From a liberation movement that emerged party won since the Foundation of the state every election. It benefits from the fact that there is no real separation of powers and the democratic institutions are weak.

in 2016, was Moçambique practically bankrupt and The government had authorized secret loans of more than two billion dollars to businesses in Mozambique. The loans were only possible because the government had signed officials illegal guarantees under which the state assumes in the case of a bankruptcy, the full responsibility. As a consequence, many countries stopped their support for Mozambique. The rampant corruption has also established after the flood disaster in the foreign doubt, whether the state is able to distribute the aid fairly.

Rich countries have a responsibility

Since two years ago, armed Islamists terrorize also in the North of the population. Exactly where natural gas was discovered, and projects Offshore in the hope of prosperity is smart and committed, the group al-Shabaab – which has no formal Links to the eponymous terrorist group in Somalia, has repeatedly attacks. "The government is trying to fight it, but with no success," says Torre.

terrorism social problems caused by inadequate education and health system, and high youth unemployment. Conflicts and economic developments are mutually dependent and resulted in Moçambique finally, in the Situation in which it was hardly on the Floods prepared. However, the weak government can be made alone is hardly responsible for it. The cyclone is a consequence of climate change, and went far beyond the extent of previous natural disasters, says Torre: "The responsibility for this, not the poor, but the rich countries."

(Tages-Anzeiger)

Created: 07.04.2019, 20:24 PM