The Impact of Islamic Insurgency in Cabo Delgado in Mozambique 2017-2023.

Abstract

Cabo Delgado, the Northern Province of the Republic of Mozambique was attacked by an Islamic extremist group calling themselves Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’ah and the locals referred to as Al Shabaab in 2017. The insurgency resulted in destruction of infrastructure, homesteads were destroyed, kidnappings, displacement and killing of innocent people among others. Therefore this research investigated the impact of the Islamic insurgency in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. The research was guided by three objectives to; explored the evolution of Islamic insurgency; identified contributing factors to the rise in Mozambique and assessed the impact of Islamic insurgency in Cabo Delgado Mozambique. A qualitative research approach was used due to its confidential nature and pre-requisition to directly interact with society and the components under investigation. The study also employed a two-dimensional sample technique sequence including a snowball ‘participants’ sample and a purposive/judgmental sampling method. Data was collected using the interviews, observations and questionnaires. This was augmented with desktop approach. The theoretical framework underpinning the study is relative deprivation theory, a concept often used in sociology that helped to explain aggressive behavior associated with terrorist tendencies. Major findings includes that terrorism in Mozambique is caused by issues that borders around marginalization, poverty, high income inequality and underdevelopment of the province. In addition, the Northern Province lacked basic healthcare, education and jobs, with food insecurity triggered by the genesis of extraction of oil and gas triggered the uprising. It was also established that the insurgence group evolved out of fundamentalist forms of Islamic religion linked to disfranchised and marginalized youths who were motivated by complex political, economic, and social factors inclusive of disagreements with religious authorities in Cabo Delgado. The impact of the insurgency borders around socio-economic, political effects and displacement among others with potential of creating a resource curse on discovered oil and gas. The Islamic group has direct impact on the religious liberties as they impose strict Islamic fundamentals in areas that terrorist have attached and occupied. Major recommendations include issues to deal with development in the province, creation of employment, provision of social amenities such as hospitals, schools and sporting facilities. Resource nationalization focused on the province and religious tolerance as key in dealing with extremism.