Mozambique: Progress against jihadist threat in Capo Delgado

• 14 May 2022: At a press conference, government and coalition forces announced that they had killed 54 insurgents in the last two months in Cabo Delgado province, thus highlighting the progress being made against the jihadist threat (Club of Mozambique, 16 May 2020).
• 18 May 2022: At least 40 IS-affiliated insurgents surrendered to the Mozambican authorities in Nangade District in Cabo Delgado province. This followed an appeal made just days earlier by the General Commander of the Mozambican police force, Bernardino Rafael, in which he called for the insurgents in Cabo Delgado to lay down their arms, promising that they would be treated humanely (Intelligence Briefs, 18 May 2022).

However, violent attacks have continued:

• 7 May 2022: Three Mozambican soldiers were killed in an attack on a military position in Macomia District, Cabo Delgado; IS claimed responsibility (Club of Mozambique, 11 May 2022).
• 23 May 2022: Carta de Mozambique reported on 23 May that jihadists had beheaded four people in Macomia District in Cabo Delgado province and abducted a number of others. They also burned down huts and looted property.

World Watch Research analyst Yonas Dembele comments: “Attacks in Cabo Delgado have significantly dropped ever since the deployment of SADC and Rwandan forces began in earnest, however it is still far too early to declare the jihadist threat over. Attacks still continue, although sporadically, and therefore religious freedoms are still under threat in Mozambique. There are fears that the main insurgency group is planning to lay low while it engages in fundraising in South Africa in order to bolster its jihadist campaign. In this regard, Mozambique has taken steps to strengthen its anti-money laundering laws and has set up programs for social and economic reform in the region (Club of Mozambique, 13 May 2022).”