Islamic Insurgency in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique: Socio-economic Causes and Consequences Through a Historical Lens

Cabo Delgado Province in Northern Mozambique has seen a rising level of Islamic radicalization since 2017, with an escalation of violent attacks by local militants against state forces and civilians. Researchers point to three main causes behind the insurgency: the province’s marginalized socio-economic situation, religious dynamics and the influence of radical Islamist preachers. This chapter takes a historical lens by also examining the various historic determinants behind the current conflict, which stem from the country’s ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity (and dividedness) and past governance system of a ‘public-private corporate partnership’. Pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial political and economic agenda have not only hindered the creation of a unified Mozambican national identity but also critically marginalized the north, including Cabo Delgado, impacting on today’s political, economic and social dynamics. The analysis provides a more nuanced understanding of the various socio-economic development processes over the past centuries, which make today’s rising trend of radicalization hardly surprising. By presenting the various historical analogies between past and present Islamic expansion, ethnic, religious and power confrontations and the pursuit of economic and corporate interests, the chapter contributes to a fuller interpretation of the current context and the recent developments.