ISIS seeks to boost presence in Mozambique

Nahla Abdel Moenim

ISIS, aka Daesh, is seeking to boost its presence in Mozambique in East Africa. The terrorist organization massacred 52 young people in an attack in Xitaxi in Muidumbe district after locals refused to be recruited to its ranks.  Most were either shot dead or beheaded.

The massacre marked a significant development in the region. The unrest has forced hundreds of thousands of locals to flee and raised concern among big energy firms operating in the region. More than 200,000 people have fled the area hit worst by the violence, according to The Guardian newspaper.

On March 23, the insurgents briefly occupied the center of Mocímboa da Praia, a district headquarters, burning government facilities, including a barracks, and brandishing banners of affiliation to the so-called Islamic State.

The district is known for a gas project, which is one of the largest in Africa, with investments exceeding $60 billion. Russia has the highest investment stake in the project, according to The Times newspaper.

Russia has intensified security measures via private companies to with costs topping crude prices in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In October, the terrorist group killed two Russians working in the project.

South African-based website Daily Maverick said in a researched study that northern Mozambique is rich in natural resources with large investments in the region, especially from Russia.

Therefore, terrorist groups started attacking Cabo Delgado province, which is rich in gold and graphite.

ISIS officially announced its presence in Mozambique in June 2018 three months after a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov  and President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi to sign gas contracts.

Russian company Roseneft has conducted studies that affirmed large gas reserves in the region.

Although economic resources remain the target of terrorist groups, there are a number of local factors that pave the way for terrorist groups. These factors include weak security services, high poverty rates and low living standards, according to the US-based RAND Corporation.