Terrorist threat in Mozambique at center of SADC summit

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3 min

The heads of state of southern Africa are meeting in virtual summit this Monday, August 17. At the center of their concerns: the terrorist threat in Mozambique. On Wednesday, jihadists seized the port of Mocimboa da Praia, strategic for the huge liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the region, one of the largest investments in Africa, in which the French group Total participates. This attack is testing the response capacities of southern African countries.

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With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Noé Hochet-Bodin

SADC expressed concern over the jihadist phenomenon, which has been active for 3 years in northern Mozambique, near the border with Tanzania. The regional organization now intends to shift into high gear since terrorists seized the port of Mocinboa da Praia , a strategic location for international hydrocarbon companies who intend to extract large quantities of liquefied natural gas in the future.

This time around, the ostrich policy will no longer work. Those who call themselves Al-Shabaab have been conquering towns in the province of Cabo Delgado for three years. Few regional actors were interested in this terrorist phenomenon in northern Mozambique. Not even Mozambique, which officially recognized their presence only 4 months ago.

However, in three years many parameters have changed: the few hundred jihadists have strengthened their rank, now standing up to the Mozambican special forces; then, they baptized themselves Islamic State of Central Africa; and finally huge gas reserves have been discovered off the coast of the country, attracting all of the world's hydrocarbon giants.

Except that the horizon is darkening for this future gas Eldorado since the jihadists have invaded the city of Mocimboa da Praia which hosts gas installations.

SADC must react and first of all the big South African brother. However, it is unlikely that Cyril Ramaphosa will send soldiers, say specialists. They are indeed already deployed in the country to manage the health crisis.

Meeting today, SADC heads of state will debate whether or not to send troops to help the Mozambican government, a promise made in April but never materialized so far 

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• Mozambique
• Terrorism