General

The Armed Forces for the Defence of Mozambique (Forças Armadas de Defesa de Moçambique) were formed in mid August 1994 from the previous warring factions of the Mozambique Civil War, which ended in 1992. The new armed forces were formed through a commission, the Comissão Conjunta para a Formação das Forças Armadas de Defesa e Segurança de Moçambique (CCFADM), chaired by the Organization of the United Nations to Mozambique (ONUMOZ). The new armed forces were formed by integrating those soldiers of the former Popular Forces for the Liberation of Mozambique (FPLM) and the rebels Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) who wished to stay in uniform. Two generals were appointed to lead the new forces, one from FRELIMO and another from RENAMO.

The first three infantry battalions were stationed at Chokwe, Cuamba, and Quelimane.

In April 2010 it was announced that "the People's Republic of China donated to the FADM material for agriculture worth €4 million, including trucks, tractors, agricultural implements, mowers and motorbikes in the framework of bilateral cooperation in the military. Under a protocol of cooperation in the military field, the Government of China will also provide support to the Ministry of Defence of Mozambique with about €1 million for the areas of training and logistics.

Overview

Military branches :
Mozambique Armed Defence Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2008)

Military service age and obligation :
registration for military service is mandatory for all males and females at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation; women may serve as officers or enlisted (2010)

Manpower available for military service :
males age 16-49: 4,613,367 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service :
males age 16-49: 2,677,473
females age 16-49: 2,941,073 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually :
male: 274,602
female: 280,008 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures :
0.8% of GDP (2006)