Constitution

Mozambique 2004 Constitution (reviewed 2007)

Table of Contents

TITLE XIII. NATIONAL DEFENCE AND NATIONAL DEFENCE AND SECURITY COUNCIL

CHAPTER I. NATIONAL DEFENCE

Article 265. Fundamental Principles

The State’s national defence and security policy shall seek to defend national independence, to preserve the sovereignty and the integrity of the country, and to guarantee the normal functioning of institutions and the security of citizens against any armed aggression.

Article 266. Defence Force and Security Service

  1. The defence force and the security service shall be subordinate to national defence and security policy and shall owe allegiance to the Constitution and to the nation.
  2. The oath taken by members of the State’s defence force and security service shall establish the duty to respect the Constitution, to protect institutions and to serve the people.
  3. The State’s defence force and security service shall not adhere to any party and they shall abstain from taking positions or taking part in actions that could threaten their internal cohesion and national unity.
  4. The State’s defence force and security service shall owe special obedience to the President of the Republic, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief.

Article 267. Defence of the Motherland, Military Service and Civic Service

  1. It shall be the sacred duty and the honour of all Mozambican citizens to participate in the defence of independence, of sovereignty and of territorial integrity.
  2. Military service shall be rendered in terms of the law within units of the Mozambique Armed Defence Forces.
  3. The law shall establish a civic service to substitute or complement military service for all citizens who are not subject to military duties.
  4. Exemptions from military service shall be established by law.

CHAPTER II. NATIONAL DEFENCE AND SECURITY COUNCIL

Article 268. Definition and Composition

  1. The National Defence and Security Council shall be the State consultative body for matters pertaining to national sovereignty, territorial integrity, the defence of democratically established authority, and security.
  2. The National Defence and Security Council shall be presided over by the President of the Republic and the law shall determine its composition, which shall include two members appointed by the President of the Republic and five members appointed by the Assembly of the Republic.

Article 269. Powers

The National Defence and Security shall have the following powers, in particular:

  1. to pronounce upon a state of war before such is declared;
  2. to pronounce upon the suspension of constitutional guarantees and the declaration of a state of siege or of a state of emergency;
  3. to issue an opinion on the criteria and conditions governing the use of total or partial protection zones for the purposes of defence and security of the national territory;
  4. to analyse and monitor the initiatives of other State offices aimed at guaranteeing the consolidation of national independence, the strengthening of democratic political power, and the maintaining of law and order;
  5. to pronounce upon overseas peace missions.

Article 270. Organisation and Functioning

The organisation and functioning or the National Defence and Security Council shall be established by law.