Major interventions by the government of Mozambique, supported internationally, are required to address economic and political issues and take the steam out of militant recruitment that exploits citizen disillusionment. ![]() There is profound suspicion that the government is conspiring to serve the economic interests of elites, even by conspiring with the insurgency to drive people off their land. This has been intensified by the recent large-scale development of natural resources, including major natural gas investments, that are seen as not benefitting the people of the province. The roots of the conflict are complex, but certainly include a long-standing sense among residents of being mistreated by the central government. The insurgency in Cabo Delgado is fueled by legitimate economic and political grievances that must be addressed to build peace. The immediate priority should be stemming military advances by the militants while also addressing the dire humanitarian situation. Here are five keys to tackling the crisis in Cabo Delgado: 1. The RENAMO political opposition party has pressed for decentralization in negotiations, winning greater powers for provincial governors, but the power balance between Maputo and provincial capitals has remained largely unchanged. FRELIMO runs a heavily centralized government with provinces treated subserviently, allowing their people too little voice. But the government has also remained a FRELIMO-dominated institution, with the liberation-era political party staying in power since winning independence. While flawed, the government has held a series of democratic elections. The Mozambican government has had some impressive accomplishments, most notably ending its brutal war with RENAMO that ran from 1977 to 1992. An urgency in addressing it is long overdue. ![]() Under a best-case scenario, the insurgency in Cabo Delgado could take several years to tame. There is potential for the conflict to expand into neighboring provinces, also rich in natural resources and ripe for militant exploitation, and even across borders. The insurgents finance themselves by illicit activities, including extortion and kidnapping. The reality is that foreign terrorist links do exist, with an influx of non-Mozambican jihadists inflaming local grievances. The Mozambican government has stressed al-Shabaab’s connections to outside terrorist organizations, drawing criticism for ignoring the Mozambican elements of the conflict. The insurgency is taking advantage of a porous Tanzanian border and Mozambican coast. Indeed, a March assault on the city of Palma led energy giant Total to declare force majeure concerning its massive natural gas investment in Cabo Delgado. The militants have also improved their tactics and weaponry, as documented by a recent International Crisis Group report. With several thousand fighters, the Islamic State-affliated al-Shabbab has conducted increasingly sophisticated military operations, including by reportedly working intelligence cells within the Mozambican military. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kyle Steckler) Background Mozambique Defence Armed Forces enter a building while participating in room clearing and close-quarters combat training during exercise, Jan. Beyond the immediate priority of stemming the violence and addressing the dire humanitarian situation that is already affecting neighboring provinces, the crisis affords the government of Mozambique and the international community the opportunity to address long-standing challenges. While regional and international actors - namely, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Rwanda and the European Union - are following up on committed troop deployments and training missions, the Mozambican government and its international supporters should bring an even greater sense of urgency to this crisis. The human toll of this violence is grave, with more than 3,000 killed, nearly a million displaced and an acute hunger crisis. Since 2017, armed militants - often carrying the Islamic State flag - have been on the offensive in the northern Mozambique province of Cabo Delgado.
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