On May 21, the U.S. Embassy in Mozambique celebrated the 249th anniversary of American independence at the Montebelo Indy Village Congress Hotel. The event also marked fifty years of partnership between the United States and Mozambique. U.S. Ambassador Peter H. Vrooman welcomed Honorable Minister Fernando Rafael, Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Water Resources, alongside Mozambican officials, diplomats, and partners from various sectors.
Ambassador Vrooman highlighted the historic roots of the bilateral relationship by referencing Eduardo Mondlane and his wife Janet: “The story of Eduardo Mondlane and his wife, Janet—two students who met in the United States, and who dreamed of a free and democratic Mozambique—became a rallying call for liberation.” He emphasized that although Mondlane did not see his dream fully realized, it continues to inspire both nations.
The celebration underscored ongoing cooperation in development, security collaboration, trade, education, and cultural exchange. Ambassador Vrooman reaffirmed the embassy's commitment to shared goals such as regional peace and energy security: “After all, this is a nation that knows storms—cyclones, floods, pandemics—and knows how to recover.”
Minister Fernando Rafael acknowledged five decades of collaboration: “Over the past 50 years, the United States of America has proven to be a strategic partner of Mozambique,” he said.
As Ambassador Vrooman prepares to depart from his role, he reflected on his tenure: “As I depart, I know that the work we have done...continues in new forms and in the enduring spirit of partnership between our peoples.”
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