The number of people who have fled from the Cabo Delgado region in the last three years has been put in the tens of thousands by some estimates, with over 2000 killed. Mozambican forces know they are fighting forces who have sworn by violent Islamism but the motivation for their belligerence has not been clearly identified since the conflict broke out. Among locals, these Islamists are called Al-Shabab, just like the Somali terrorist group whose name means “The Youth”. But there has been no establishment of a connection between the Mozambican forces and the Somali group. Maputo is expected to fight tooth and nail, with the investments in Cabo Delgado firmly in mind.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 30, 2021 18:00 UTC