"I Would Be Beheaded": Islamist Insurgency Escalates in Mozambique
“If the jihadists knew I was a government official, they would have beheaded me,” said Tomas Langa, a civil servant in northern Mozambique.
Langa narrowly escaped the violence that erupted in Macomia town in the insurgency-stricken Cabo Delgado province on May 10. Awoken by intense gunfire, he peered out his window to see four armed men outside his home. Terrified, Langa fled into the countryside, where he survived on cassava plants for three days. “I was fortunate they only hurled insults at me as I escaped,” he recounted. His name has been changed for his safety.
The militants, associated with the Islamic State (IS), launched an assault on government buildings and looted shops and warehouses. They also raided a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) medical facility, seizing vehicles and supplies. MSF has since relocated its staff and suspended operations in Macomia due to the attack.
Alfane Silva, also using a pseudonym, was detained and interrogated by eight heavily armed men in military gear. They threatened him, saying he would be killed if he stayed in town. Silva said it took two days for government reinforcements to arrive, by which time the militants had already fled. Over 700 people have fled the violence in Macomia, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Residents who remained, like Silva and Langa, now live without medical facilities or electricity, in constant fear of another attack. The violence had previously subsided due to the efforts of security forces backed by neighboring states, but the situation has worsened as many of these troops are being withdrawn.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission, comprising about 2,000 soldiers from eight countries, plans to withdraw its forces by July 15, ending its three-year mandate. This decision has sparked concern among regional security experts who believe it is too soon, given the instability in the area. While Botswana and Lesotho have already withdrawn their soldiers, and Angola and Namibia are in the process, Tanzania will maintain 300 troops.
South Africa, which contributes over 1,000 soldiers, will keep its troops in Mozambique until the end of 2024 but not as part of the SADC mission. Rwanda, which has supported Mozambique since 2021, announced it would send an additional 2,000 troops to bolster its presence, independent of the SADC withdrawal.
Meron Elias, an analyst with Crisis Group, explained that the SADC mission faces financial constraints and has shifted its focus to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This shift has left Mozambique more vulnerable, especially as attacks have increased since December 2023, displacing over 110,000 people.
The insurgency, led by the IS-affiliated al-Shabab group in Mozambique (unrelated to Somalia’s al-Shabab), has been active since 2017, causing widespread devastation and displacing communities. The region’s rich natural resources, including natural gas and minerals, have made it a target.
In 2021, the French energy giant Total Energies suspended its $20 billion liquified natural gas project following a brutal attack on Palma town. The subsequent deployment of SADC and Rwandan troops brought a brief period of stability, but the resurgence of violence has shattered that peace.
Researcher Tomas Queface from Cabo Ligado reported that militants held Macomia for two days by recruiting more fighters, including children. Human Rights Watch documented cases of children participating in the looting during the attacks.
Neighboring countries, particularly Tanzania, have heightened security to prevent spillover violence. Tanzania has imposed curfews and increased patrols along the border, significantly raising its defense budget since 2021. There are concerns that if the insurgency in Cabo Delgado escalates, other countries like Malawi could also be affected.
Regional experts argue that Mozambique’s armed forces need further strengthening to achieve a military victory. However, the long-term solution lies in addressing the socio-economic disparities in the north, which the jihadists exploit to fuel their cause.
