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

Abstract

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