Cabo Delgado Province Research Articles

Population Health in Northern Mozambique. The Civil Society Opinion: A Qualitative Study

Context: The Government of Mozambique, responding to Islamic insurgency since 2017, aiming to design a resilience strategy in Northern Mozambique (Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa provinces), asked Lúrio University in 2021 to perform a consultation with grassroots communities in civil society and internally displaced people, to assess their health situation, needs and proposals.Materials and Methods: Qualitative descriptive study with focus groups discussions in urban, rural, inland, and coastal communities and internally displaced people, respecting ethical, safety, confidentiality, and preventive measures of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Convenience sampling was determined in each community and participants were selected with the support of local leaders, focusing on "resource people", stratified by adults’ gender and youth. Demographic and social data were analysed with SPSS software and answers to health questions were collected in writing and dealt with discourse analysis by category and subcategory. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.Findings: A total of 54 focus group discussions were held with 320 participants, 47.5% female, 65.6% adult and 34.4% adolescent and youth, 23.8% internally displaced persons. Most families recognise the importance of the national health service but feel cheated by the widespread corruption in public services, COVID-19 pandemic, and insurgency.Conclusion: The grassroots communities of the three provinces of northern Mozambique face daily challenges to their livelihoods and consider that public services and external support are insufficient. Valuing the availability of a free national health service, they point out serious limitations in these services, but also some proposals for solutions.

Impact of conflict on the elimination targets of lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths in Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique.

Mozambique has one of the highest burdens of neglected tropical diseases in Africa. Lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths are being targeted for elimination as part of integrated mass drug administration campaigns. The progress made towards interruption of transmission has been affected by recent conflict in Cabo Delgado province. The aim of this paper was to determine the potential impact of this crisis on the neglected tropical diseases programme and the challenges in reaching the elimination goals of 2030. A desk-based secondary data analysis was conducted on publicly available sources of neglected tropical diseases, conflict incidents, internally displaced persons and geographical access between 2020 and 2022. Data were summarised and mapped using GIS software. A combined risk stratified assessment at district level was developed with five classifications i) Very high-risk; ii) High-risk; iii) Medium to high-risk; iv) Medium risk; and v) Not at risk due to conflict absence but co-endemic. Lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths were co-endemic in 115 out of 156 (74%) districts. Between 2020 and 2022 a total of 1,653 conflict-related incidents were reported, most of them in Cabo Delgado province (n = 1,397, 85%). A five-fold increase of internally displaced persons was recorded from April 2020 (n = 172,186) to November 2022 (n = 935,130). Geographical accessibility also deteriorated across the province with an increase from five (29%) in 2021 to seven (41%) districts in 2022 classified as hard-to-reach. The combined risk stratification identified that most districts in Cabo Delgado province had medium to high-risk (n = 7; 41%); very high-risk (n = 5, 29%); medium risk (n = 3, 18%); high-risk (n = 2, 12%). Most of the districts of Cabo Delgado were considered to be at risk of not meeting the neglected tropical diseases road map 2030 targets due to the humanitarian crisis ongoing. There is the need for practical strategies and funding to overcome these hostile challenges.

Domination, Collaboration and Conflict in Cabo Delgado's History of Extractivism

A long history of extractive industries and activities have shaped the societies of northern Mozambique, and the Cabo Delgado province in particular. For centuries, the growing international demand on local resources had a great impact on the northern micro-societies. The demand for cheap labour and natural resources, ranging from ivory and cotton, to timber, rubies, land, gas and more, involved thousands of local actors in its extraction, reproducing systems of local power. The persistence of poverty, inequality and conflicts, as well as simmering and sometimes grand-scale violence, fits into a long-term trend of extractivism. Through a historical approach and field observations, we focus on the political economy of extracting natural resources. We point out the persisting basic patterns of extractivism that accompanied Mozambique's integration into global markets, and continued or even deepened, in the post-independence period. These activities are oriented towards foreign markets. They are instigated by foreign investment, but invariably carried out in collaboration with a chain of national gatekeepers. In a clientelist system, local elites resort to their proximity to the state to reproduce their power, often at the expense of state expropriation. Weak state institutions have the functional effect of reproducing the elites, also serving the interests of extractivist capital. It is, however, a system with many and profound contradictions, producing conflict and violence, which also recurrently put those interests at risk.

Critiquing the Scramble for Mozambique’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Oil by Foreign Powers: Case of Cabo Delgado Province

Critiquing the Scramble for Mozambique’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Oil by Foreign Powers: Case of Cabo Delgado Province

Cosmarium knopkirri sp. nov. (Desmidiaceae, Zygnematophyceae) from a tropical wetland in northern Mozambique

Cosmarium knopkirri Levanets & Janse van Vuuren sp. nov. (Desmidiaceae, Zygnematophyceae) is a newly discovered desmid species collected from an inland wetland system near Palma, Cabo Delgado Province, northern Mozambique. The diagnostic features distinguishing it from other species in the genus include semicells decorated with four concentric, alternating rows consisting of well-developed, large granules. Granules of one row alternate approximately half of the inter-granule distance with respect to those in the next row. The apical circle consists of 6 finger-like granules, while 6, 8 and 10 hemispherical granules are present on the circles located subapical, median and adjacent to the sinus, respectively.

Systemic Peacebuilding in Mozambique: MOZ2050 Strategic Plan

Mozambique, a nation with a tumultuous history marked by colonization, civil war, and ongoing socio - economic challenges, stands at a critical juncture in its development trajectory. Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, Mozambique has grappled with political transitions, armed conflict, and the exploitation of its abundant natural resources. Despite its mineral wealth, particularly in the Northern region, the country continues to face pervasive issues of poverty, inequality, and social injustice. The signing of the Peace Agreement in 1992, which brought an end to the civil war between the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) and the National Resistance of Mozambique (RENAMO), marked a pivotal moment in the nation's history. However, the aftermath of conflict has left deep scars on Mozambican society, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and fostering conditions conducive to violent extremism. Cabo Delgado Province, renowned for its mineral riches yet plagued by poverty and instability, has become a focal point of violent extremism, notably with the emergence of the self- proclaimed Islamic State. The region has witnessed a wave of terrorist attacks, leading to mass displacement, loss of life, and profound psychological trauma among its inhabitants, particularly women, children, and persons with disabilities. In response to this complex crisis, the Mozambique 2050 (MOZ2050) Strategic Plan has been formulated, representing a holistic and innovative approach to peacebuilding and resilience-building. Grounded in extensive contextual analysis and stakeholder consultations, this multifaceted strategy aims to address the root causes of extremism while fostering social cohesion, economic empowerment, and sustainable development.

‘잊혀진 곶(Cabo Esquecido)’, 카보 델가도(Cabo Delgado) 테러에 관한 다차원적 접근

Situated along the Indian Ocean coast, Cabo Delgado province in northern area of Mozambique, is rich in natural resources, particularly natural gas. Recent efforts by the international community to secure energy supplies and achieve carbon neutrality have led to active natural gas development projects in this region. However, since 2017, a persistent armed terrorist threat has jeopardized the safety of locals and foreign investors. The terrorism in this area began with a small local extremist Islamic group, but factors beyond religious motivations, such as political and economic inequalities and connections with international extremist elements, have contributed to its complexity, exacerbating the reach and influence of terrorism. Consequently, these terrorist activities not only pose a significant security challenge to Mozambique but also threaten global security. South Korea's participation, for instance, in Mozambique’s natural gas development projects further exposes it to direct and indirect terrorism threats. However, research on the local security situation is scarce both domestically and internationally. Therefore, this study undertakes a multidimensional analysis of the causes and impacts of terrorism in Cabo Delgado. In the meantime, the study identifies the primary drivers of terrorism in this region as local grievances, state vulnerabilities, and the interdependence of the international system. Consequently, the study suggests the ‘3S(society-state-system) model’ as an analytic framework to understand the complex changes and development of terrorism in Cabo Delgado.

Regionalism and the fight against terrorism in southern Africa: reflections on Cabo Delgado in Mozambique

Post-independence Africa has often depicted Southern Africa as a formidable region spared by the calamities of Islamic insurgencies and terrorism. However, unfolding events in the last five years have demonstrated the limitation of SADC to terrorism exceptionalism. A combination of relatively weak states perpetuating poor regionalism, ethnic and religious diversity, poverty and the existence of the ‘ungoverned space’ are possible explanations in making the region a suitable habitat for insurgency groups. The recent invasion by terrorists of Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique has been a critical cause for concern for the stability of the region. The military intervention of the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) and Rwanda presents an opportunity for academics to explore regional prospects for peace and security. This paper uses insights gained from a qualitative study on terrorism, counterterrorism and regionalism to investigate the concept of regional security cooperation in the SADC region and the authenticity of institutional responses in Northern Mozambique. The study concludes that the launch of the SAMIM, despite several obstacles, represents a step in the right direction. More so, creating durable security institutions is the starting point towards realising meaningful regional security cooperation, which guarantees feasible regional economic integration.

Crustal and tectonic structure of Northern Mozambique inferred by 2D gravity modeling

The northern region of Mozambique has a complex geological history, with an evolution that spans from the Precambrian Era to the Phanerozoic Era. In this work, we have integrated gravity and geothermal data to delineate the geotectonic evolution of the region, by estimating the thickness of the crust and the lithosphere through which was essential to generate a representative crustal model. It was necessary to complement the knowledge of structural geometry and tectonic evolution of the region. The data used in this study are the Bouguer and geoid anomalies, topography data, and radiogenic heat. These data were pre-processed, topography and geoid anomaly data were filtered by low-pass filter in the frequency and harmonic domains to remove undesirable effects associated with the sources. The data were used to estimate the thickness of the crust and lithosphere, as well as to determine the mean density distribution within the mantle. This was achieved by using a one-dimensional approach, considering the principle of local isostatic compensation, associated with equations governing the distribution of temperature in the crust. The Bouguer anomaly was used to generate a representative crustal 2D model of this region. The results showed that the crust is thinner in Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces, with thickness ranging from 27 to 31 km, whereas in Niassa varies between 33 and 39 km. The analysis of lithospheric thickness indicates that the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado present a thinning of the lithosphere, with values ranging from 150 to 165 km. Rather than Niassa province which exhibits a thicker lithosphere, ranging from 165 to 195 km. The obtained results underwent a comparative analysis with prior investigations, unveiling a noteworthy concurrence among these findings.

Structural readiness of health facilities in Mozambique: how is Mozambique positioned to deliver nutrition-specific interventions to women and children?

Background The health sector is essential in delivering high-quality nutrition interventions to women and children in low and middle-income countries, and Mozambique is no exception. Still, the quality and readiness of health services to deliver nutritional services have yet to be comprehensively mapped across the country. We assessed the accessibility and readiness of health facilities to deliver maternal and child nutrition services in Mozambique. Methods Using multiple data sources within a geographic information system (GIS) environment, we calculated facility readiness to deliver nutritional services, population access to health facilities, and health facilities ready to deliver nutrition services. Data from Mozambique’s 2018 Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) was used to calculate readiness scores for each facility in the country. We used geospatial data from the ´WorldPop´ initiative to estimate the proportion of people in Mozambique within 10 kilometers of a ready facility. For each province and the country as a whole, we calculated the proportion of people with access to a ready facility for maternal and child nutrition interventions. Results At the national level, 29.1% and 37.3% of the population were within 10 kilometers of a facility ready to deliver all maternal and child nutrition services, respectively. Pregnancy growth monitoring (73.8%) and vitamin A supplementation (72.4%) were the most available interventions to the population. In contrast, anemia testing/iron supplementation (45.1%) was the least available nutritional intervention. The Center (30.5%) and North (26.9%) regions of Mozambique had much lower coverage than the South region (71.7%) across the maternal and child nutrition interventions. Nampula (14.9%) and Zambézia (17.9%) provinces were the least ready to deliver maternal nutrition services while Nampula (20.4%) and Cabo Delgado (21.2%) provinces were the least ready to deliver nutrition services to children. Conclusions To achieve high coverage of nutrition interventions, facilities need a full suite of commodities and equipment. Currently, too many facilities in Mozambique have only some of these supplies, meaning that only a minority of the children and pregnant women will receive effective nutrition services when they need them. Multi-sectoral efforts, including those outside the health system, are necessary to improve nutrition in Mozambique.

Contradictions to decent African jobs under energy transition-related extractivism: the case of graphite mining in Mozambique

ABSTRACT The power of African labour to bargain for better terms of employment is an important precondition to ensuring decent jobs under energy transition-related resource (ETR) extraction and the global renewable energy sector more broadly. Through the lens of graphite mining communities in Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique, this article examines the socio-economic contradictions constraining the power of residents to negotiate decent jobs from ETR projects in Cabo Delgado and other regions of the country. Six principal but intertwined contradictions are identified, including regional antipathies and limited livelihood alternatives, engaging energy transition discussions in Mozambique on the issues unfolding at the local level which inhibit workers from negotiating decent jobs. A micro-level perspective to examining challenges to decent African jobs enables critical reflection on the local aptness of climate change policies, such as the energy transition, which are predominantly discussed at the global, regional and national levels.

The Cabo Delgado Insurgency: A Symptom of Governance Failure in Mozambique

The terrorist attacks in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique started in 2017 and were perpetrated by armed militants. The insurgency resulted in the displacement of people, compromised health facilities, and a growing humanitarian crisis in the province. While the government’s national defence forces continue to fight to subdue the insurgents, violence in the province continues. In order to understand the conflict, this article highlights the root causes of the insurgency. Furthermore, by using a case study method and interpreting secondary data, the article illustrates that post-Mozambique civil war, the state has been unable to facilitate an inclusive democracy where citizens can participate in political life or provide them with a conducive environment to improve their lives. This article, thus, argues that the state’s limited ability to provide public goods for its population as well as its neglect of the Cabo Delgado province indicate governance failure, which has left the country vulnerable to insurgency. The article further recommends that, in the short-term, the state must counter the current insurgency and secure its territory, while in the long-term it must address evident weakness in governance. Keywords: Mozambique, Cabo Delgado province, Insurgency, Governance failure

Quality of routine data for monitoring nutrition and diarrhoea indicators of children under 5 in Mozambique: an ecological study over a 5-year period

BackgroundUndernutrition and diarrhoea have a high burden in children under 5 in low/middle-income countries. Having data-driven quality health services for these two diseases is key in order to address the...

Smart Rural Communities: Action Research in Colombia and Mozambique

This article contributes to the ongoing discussion on rural development programs aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Global South. The research question examines how the Smart Rural Communities (SRC) framework can support the SDGs as an international cooperation model. The article presents findings from fieldwork action research including a critical analysis of the hegemonic discourse on smart cities and provides final recommendations. Additionally, it introduces the concept of SRC. The fieldwork action research was conducted in post-conflict rural areas in Colombia’s Bolivar region and remote settlements in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. Led by Ayuda En Acción in collaboration with co-operatives such as Mundukide Foundation, Alecop, and LKS from Mondragon Co-operative Corporation, these interventions aimed to engage local communities through Living Labs. They utilized Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and social innovation to promote the well-being of rural residents. The article comprises (i) an introduction; (ii) a literature review; (iii) a presentation of the fieldwork action research in Colombia and Mozambique; (iv) findings from a SWOT analysis and policy recommendations for SRC Living Labs; (v) conclusions addressing the research question. The SRC framework offers valuable insights for international cooperation models striving to achieve the SDGs in the Global South.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on Cholera and Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) among Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on Cholera and Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) among Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique

Southern African Development Community application of Collective Security Against Al Sunnah Terrorists in Mozambique (2015 - 2021)

Beginning on October 5, 2017, Al Sunnah militants in the Cabo Delgado region of Mozambique violently attacked security personnel, governmental buildings, and the civilian public and by 2020 the terrorists had killed more than 3,000 people and driven almost 800,000 people from their homes. The terrorists were also starting to spill over into neighboring nations creating a regional security threat. The Mozambique security forces reacted to the situation without success as the reaction force was underequipped and lacked the necessary skills. As the situation further worsened, Mozambique requested the Southern African Development Community for assistance on the basis of the group’s collective security provisions. This culminated in the deployment of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM). This study aims at evaluating the collective defense capacity-building initiatives adopted by SADC to assist Mozambique. The study uses a qualitative approach with data gathered through document analysis and interviews of 15 purposely selected informants comprised of military officers directly involved in the conflict, academics and key politicians. Collective security initiatives adopted by SADC include diplomatic involvement, training, offensive military operations, the provision of military gear, guidance, funding, consulting services, and intelligence services. The outcomes show that, despite certain difficulties, the collective initiatives by SADC member states were sufficient to achieve the desired end state of neutralizing the Al Sunnah terrorists and restoring peace and security to Cabo Delgado Province.

Location, Location—Tanzania, Mozambique Soon To Join Club of Global LNG Suppliers to India, China, Southeast Asia

_ East Africa is positioning itself as a global player in liquefied natural gas (LNG) with the world’s supermajors staking out projects that will ramp up this decade to supply India, Southeast Asia, and China through 2050. With three LNG megaprojects—two in Mozambique and one in neighboring Tanzania—soon to take off after years of false starts and delays, it is no wonder that India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited the region in April with energy security top of mind. Jaishankar’s East Africa trip was the first official visit to the region by an Indian foreign minister in over a decade. He stopped first in Uganda where oil is in play after Uganda inked a deal in February to complete the long-delayed East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and deliver first oil in 2025 from Uganda’s Lake Albert oil fields to Tanzania’s port of Tanga on the Indian Ocean. After spending 3 days in Uganda, Jaishankar traveled to Mozambique where state-owned ONGC Videsh leads an Indian consortium holding a 30% stake in the country’s $20-billion Offshore Area 1 project, Mozambique LNG, which stalled in April 2021 after the operator, TotalEnergies, declared force majeure over terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado Province near the Afungi peninsula plant site. Mozambique LNG’s 13.1-mtpa capacity, two-train facility is one of two megaprojects that will help transform East Africa into a global LNG supplier. The other is ExxonMobil’s Rovuma LNG project, another two-train facility for which a final investment decision (FID) was delayed as the Islamic insurgency that had been building since 2020 intensified along the Cabo Delgado coast. India imports 85% of its oil and 55% of its natural gas. In 2022, it consumed about 22 mpta of LNG, according to Shell’s LNG Outlook 2023. India’s business daily Mint reported that during Q1 2023, India’s LNG imports were worth $14.88 billion, an amount that was 36.46% higher than the $10.90 billion value of LNG India imported in Q1 2022. So far in 2023, Qatar has been India’s No. 1 LNG supplier followed by the UAE and the US. By 2030, Mozambique, Tanzania, and possibly the Republic of Djibouti (with access to the Indian Ocean via the Gulf of Aden) will be joining the list. Considering that tankers can deliver LNG and oil from the East African coast to the subcontinent in 3 days, it’s no wonder that Mint described the foreign minister’s visit as “signifying New Delhi’s push to develop Africa as a key (energy) supplier.” India and China Claim Big Stakes in Future East African Energy Flows Indian partners ONGC Videsh Rovuma, Beas Rovuma Energy Mozambique, and BPRL Ventures Mozambique control 30% of the Mozambique LNG project (10% each). Total E&P Mozambique Area 1 holds a 26.5% operator interest with remaining shares distributed among Mozambique state-owned ENH Rovuma Área Um (15%); Japan’s Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area 1 (20%), and Thailand’s PTTEP Mozambique Area 1 (8.5%).

High-Risk Regions of African Swine Fever Infection in Mozambique.

African swine fever (ASF) is a transboundary infectious disease that can infect wild and domestic swine and requires enhanced surveillance between countries. In Mozambique, ASF has been reported across the country, spreading between provinces, mainly through the movement of pigs and their by-products. Subsequently, pigs from bordering countries were at risk of exposure. This study evaluated the spatiotemporal distribution and temporal trends of ASF in swine in Mozambique between 2000 and 2020. During this period, 28,624 cases of ASF were reported across three regions of the country. In total, the northern, central, and southern regions presented 64.9, 17.8, and 17.3% of the total cases, respectively. When analyzing the incidence risk (IR) of ASF per 100,000 pigs, the Cabo Delgado province had the highest IR (17,301.1), followed by the Maputo province (8868.6). In the space-time analysis, three clusters were formed in each region: (i) Cluster A involved the provinces of Cabo Delgado and Nampula (north), (ii) Cluster B involved the province of Maputo and the city of Maputo (south), and (iii) Cluster C consisted of the provinces of Manica and Sofala (central) in 2006. However, when analyzing the temporal trend in the provinces, most were found to be decreasing, except for Sofala, Inhambane, and Maputo, which had a stationary trend. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the spatial distribution of ASF in Mozambique. These findings will contribute to increasing official ASF control programs by identifying high-risk areas and raising awareness of the importance of controlling the borders between provinces and countries to prevent their spread to other regions of the world.

The Southern African Development Community’s Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM): Policymaking and Effectiveness

ABSTRACT On 23 June 2021, after months of deliberations, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) approved the establishment of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) in response to escalating violent extremism and insurgency by an Islamist armed group, Al-Shabaab or Al-Sunnah wa Jama’ah (ASWJ), in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, which posed the risk of regional contagion. SAMIM was deployed under scenario 6 of the African Standby Force (ASF) with a mandate focused on supporting the Mozambican government to combat terrorism and violent extremism in Cabo Delgado. Its mandate also centred on strengthening and maintaining peace and security; restoring law and order; and assisting the government and humanitarian agencies to provide humanitarian relief to the affected population. This paper contributes to raising public understanding of the regional and continental policies and principles underpinning the SADC decision-making process regarding the deployment of peace missions and the effectiveness of SAMIM in fulfilling its mandated tasks until its first anniversary. It identified the relative pacification of Cabo Delgado as a crucial strategic and operational impact of SAMIM’s exceptional military intervention, which facilitated its segue into a multidimensional peacebuilding mission. Six principal constraints-cum-opportunities of SAMIM, which had a significant bearing on its effectiveness, are discussed.

Timely implementation of contact tracing to control a focus of transmission of the novel coronavirus in a cluster of co-workers of a multinational liquefied natural gas company, April 2020, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique

Timely implementation of contact tracing to control a focus of transmission of the novel coronavirus in a cluster of co-workers of a multinational liquefied natural gas company, April 2020, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique