This chapter examines Mozambique’s political trajectory in the decades that followed the implementation of liberal reforms. It scrutinises the claims of authoritarian governance. The chapter looks at how the combination of external and domestic factors, ranging from historical legacies, flawed state-party relations, and a highly centralised political system to unintended consequences of international statebuilding and investments, affects the current political order. The chapter unfolds in four sections, each shedding light on critical aspects of Mozambique’s political landscape. First, informed by historical institutionalism, especially the path dependence framework, it explores how the colonial and socialist past set Mozambique on a particular political trajectory marked by a political culture that can be described as authoritarian. Second, it explores how domestic factors compromised the idea of a liberal democratic state. The section focuses on how Frelimo (the liberation movement turned ruling party) captured statebuilding in Mozambique, blurring the line between the party and state institutions. It also examines Mozambique’s political system, highlighting its tendency to centralise power and undermine checks and balances. The third section underscores the influence of international factors, namely the unintended consequences of liberal statebuilding and foreign direct investment, claiming that they inadvertently reinforced Frelimo’s position and entrenchment in the Mozambican state instead of minimising this situation. As a result, the last section claims there is a growing perception that Mozambique is gradually dismantling its democratic functions and leaning towards authoritarian rule.