Date of publication:

07/07/2025

Mozambique

Please describe the institutions at the national and sub-national (central and local) levels responsible for implementing laws and policies related to the rights of forcibly displaced persons. 

ANALYSIS
  • National Institute for Refugees – INAR - : created under Decree no. 51/2003 of 24 December. INAR is supervised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and oversees the area of assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. INAR is a national institute with a jurisdiction that extend all over the country.  It has offices in Maputo, Nampula, Tete and Cabo Delgado. INAR´s has the following legal attributions and competences: (a) Support and assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in Mozambique, (b) Coordination with national and foreign entities tending to guarantee the security and stability of refugees and asylum seekers (c) Organize asylum application processes, with regard to the acquisition of identification and travel documents, (d) Update the individual files of refugees and asylum seekers, (e) Promote access to education and health by refugees and asylum seekers, (f) Promote projects aiming to the self-sufficiency of refugees, (g) Coordination and articulation with the Consultative Commission for Refugees, (h) Creation and daily management of accommodation centres regarding distribution of food, goods for individual use and other necessary services.
  • Ministry of Home Affairs: is the entity that decides on asylum requests. After INAR has compiled and organized the files,  the asylum petitions are sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for a decision. The Ministry of Home Affairs is also the entity that decides on expulsion of refugees.
  • National Migration Service:   is the entity responsible to issue residence permits to refugees and asylum seekers, as well as to issue travel documents to refugees.