Development, governance key to resolving Mozambique insurgency

The insurgency in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado is rooted in poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment, poor government and governance, and porous borders contributing to human trafficking, drug smuggling and poaching. While a regional multinational force has been deployed, the gains made, such as the recapture of the towns Mocimboa da Praia and Palma, was achieved as a result of the withdrawal of the Ansar al-Sunnah insurgents rather than the actions of the security forces, risk analysis and intelligence firm 14 North Strategies Africa analyst Jasmine Opperman said this week.