Jihadist insurgency

Beginning in October 2017, armed Islamist extremists linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) launched a jihadist insurgency in the Cabo Delgado region.^[5][6] The militants launched attacks and committed mass beheadings,^[7] and in August 2020 seized the port town of Mocimboa da Praia.^[8][9] The group sometimes refers to itself as al-Shabaab,^[7][9] although they do not have known links with the Somali al-Shabaab, a different jihadist group.^[9] The International Crisis Group reported in March 2021 that while ISIL has contact with the jihadists in Mozambique and has given some level of financial assistance, ISIL likely does not exert command and control authority over the group.^[10]

Mozambique Defence Armed Forces have been battling the extremists. Many civilians have been displaced by the fighting.^[11] In September 2020, ISIL insurgents captured Vamizi Island in the Indian Ocean.^[12] Over fifty people were beheaded by terrorists in the province in April 2020 and a similar number in November 2020.^[13] In March 2021, the NGO Save the Children reported that Islamist militants were beheading children, some as young as 11.^[14]

On March 24, 2021, the militants seized Palma, murdering dozens of civilians and displacing more than 35,000 of the town's 75,000 residents.^{[8][15][16][17]} Many fled to the provincial capital, Pemba.^[7][9] In July 2021 the Southern African Development Community deployed its military mission to the province.

As of February 2022, there are still a few civilians being killed due to the lingering insurgency and several insurgent camps were found by the Mozambican authorities.^[18][19]

Religion

Mozambique is a majority-Christian country; however two northern provinces have an Islamic majority – Niassa (61 percent) and Cabo Delgado (54 percent). In Cabo Delgado, only three districts have a Catholic majority – Muidumbe (67 percent) and Mueda (54 percent) in the north and Namuno (61 percent) in the south. Two other districts have significant Catholic populations – Nangade (42 percent Catholic, 36 percent Muslim) in the north and Chiure (44 percent Muslim, 42 percent Catholic) in the South, whilst twelve have Muslim majorities, including Pemba; four are more than 90 percent Muslim. Coastal administrative posts are all over 75 percent Muslim.^[22]

Mining

• Balama mine