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CRISIS OVERVIEW
In October 2017, violence erupted in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, when armed men occupied the city of Mocimboa da Praia for two days and attacked three police stations, killing 17 people. Afterwards, armed men from the Islamist armed group Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama (ASWJ) conducted new attacks. The ASWJ is usually known locally as Al-Shabaab or mashababos, not to be confused with the Somali group Al-Shabaab (MorierGenoud 10/03/202; Lister 15/10/2022; ADF 20/11/2022). The crisis in northern Mozambique is mostly concentrated in Cabo Delgado province, but it has also spread to neighbouring provinces, such as Nampula and Niassa (ICG 10/02/2022; Cabo Ligado 30/11/2021; USIP 28/07/2021).
The Cabo Delgado conflict has its roots in the pre-existing socioeconomic marginalisation of northern Mozambique, political and religious ideology, and inequalities worsened by the discovery of minerals and natural gas deposits in the region, which has threatened the livelihood of the local population. Besides the ideology of the ASWJ/Al-Shabaab, poverty and marginalisation are also facilitating the armed group’s recruitment in the region. The Government’s response to Al-Shabaab has prompted the group to strategise and form small units able to confront government forces (Al Jazeera 24/02/2020; ACCORD 29/04/2021; ISS 08/09/2022).
The Government of Mozambique has been collaborating with regional and international allies to address the crisis, including the Southern African Development Community’s Mission in Mozambique. This peacekeeping mission deployed more than 3,000 troops in July 2021 to counter Al-Shabaab. The troops are still operational in conflict-affected areas (Reuters 09/07/2021; VOA 22/02/2022).
As at April 2023, the conflict had displaced over one million people (both returnees and IDPs). Many of these people live in overcrowded camps across the affected provinces, with little access to food, safe drinking water, healthcare, or education. 65% of the IDPs live in host communities and 35% in 99 displacement sites (IOM 23/05/2023). There have been reports of protection concerns, including violence and abuse against women and children from government forces and Al-Shabaab (UNHCR accessed 30/04/2023; HRW 24/11/2022; MSF 04/03/2021).
The humanitarian access situation for aid and assistance delivery in northern Mozambique is challenging.
Insecurity, Al-Shabaab deliberately targeting humanitarians and humanitarian facilities, limited financial resources, and bureaucratic obstacles limit humanitarian organisations’ ability to reach people in need (OCHA 26/04/2021; UNICEF 05/12/2022; CSIS 08/09/2022; ACAPS 05/07/2023