The Intelligence from The Economist The smell of gas: insurgency in Mozambique
Mar 29, 2021
Join John McDermott, Chief Africa correspondent for The Economist, as he dives into the escalating insurgency in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. He unpacks the violence gripping the region amid a major natural gas investment and the government's struggle for control. Adam Roberts, The Economist's Midwest correspondent, brings insights from Minneapolis during the trial of Derek Chauvin. The discussion also touches on broader societal issues linked to policing and justice, as well as the intriguing plight of a vanishing bird species losing its mating songs.
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Mozambique Insurgency Escalates
- Islamist fighters besieged Palma, Mozambique, near Africa's largest private investment project.
- Hundreds attempted escape, with many killed and unaccounted for, marking an escalation of the insurgency.
Cabo Delgado's Vulnerability
- Cabo Delgado, geographically distant from the capital, faces issues like drug smuggling and resource inequality.
- This makes it vulnerable to insurgency, as locals are excluded from economic opportunities.
Insurgent Origins and Grievances
- The insurgents, known as Ansar al-Sunnah or al-Shabaab, evolved from a radical Muslim sect.
- Their grievances are both religious and economic, with potential links to international jihadist groups.