On 19 October 1986 , President Machel died when his presidential aircraft crashed near South Africa 's border under mysterious circumstances . A South African sponsored investigation alleged that the crash was caused by errors made by the flight crew , a conclusion that was not universally accepted . Subsequent investigations have failed to reach a conclusion and the accident remains surrounded by conspiracy theories . Machel 's successor was Joaquim Alberto Chissano , who had served as foreign minister from 1975 until Machel 's death . Chissano continued Machel 's policies of expanding Mozambique 's international ties , particularly the country 's links with the West , and starting programs of internal economic and military reforms
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1986 Mozambican Tupolev Tu-134 crash
Mozambican Civil War