The danger posed by an extremist Islamist group in the north of Mozambique is a grave problem for the local population, Maputo, as well as the southern African region. SADC leaders once more met at the end of December to see what they can do to help. Until now Mozambique has relied on its own army and until they ask its neighbors for assistance, these cannot intervene.
Over three years the Islamists have terrorized Cabo Delgado province, where a small group of
disaffected youths has by now attracted some 3000 followers. Only recently, 50 people were
beheaded and in all 2 200 individuals were murdered. The UN has reported the displacement of 530 000 people, the majority of whom have sought shelter in Pemba, the provincial capital. Various international agencies including Doctors Without Borders, World Food Programme and the Red Cross are involved.
An important multi-billion investment attracted by huge deposits of liquified natural gas in the Indian Ocean along Cabo Delgado’s coastline is also affected.
This is one root of the conflict. These reserves are the largest in Africa after Nigeria and Algeria and are exploited, as are other minerals, by multinational corporations. The coastal areas are effectively being depopulated. The government is being increasingly criticized for corruption – and that the local people, who are mired in poverty, do not benefit from the revenues of this operation.