Extremists linked to Islamic State target Mozambique’s gas, pushing country towards radicalisation

Regina Jasinto and her family were among the first of more than 1.3 million civilians to be driven from their homes in northern Mozambique ’s resource-rich Cabo Delgado province when extremist group now affiliated with the Islamic State launched an insurgency that has now killed more than 6,000 people.

In October 2017 , an armed group called Ansar al-Sunna , also known as Al-Shabaab , emerged in northernMozambique.

More than 80 per cent of Cabo Delgado residents are subsistence fishers or farmers.

TotalEnergies’ construction of the Afungi onshore LNG (liquified natural gas) park forced 557 families into resettlement camps.

The camps were not only a fraction of the size of displaced civilians’ land, but were situated inland, sealing off access to coasts and croplands.

The government repeatedly rebuffed opportunities to focus on the needs of their people.

Ms Yasini doesn't believe that the insurgents are acting alone, or fighting because of the gas project.

Jaime Silva , an energy consultant and former logistics manager for Anadarko , suggested the government has an interest in the unrest continuing.

With presidential elections planned for October , the conflict in the north diverts attention away from the ruling Frelimo party’s abysmal performance.