Mozambique

Background reviewed 2026-10-23 · Background as of 2026-10

Background

An insurgency in the northern province of Cabo Delgado began in October 2017 with an attack on Mocímboa da Praia. The armed group, known locally as al-Shabaab and linked to the Islamic State, seized towns and in March 2021 attacked Palma, near major gas projects.

Rwandan troops and a Southern African regional mission (SAMIM) deployed in 2021 and retook key towns; the regional mission ended in 2024 while Rwandan forces remained. Attacks have continued at a lower level and have spread to neighbouring Niassa and Nampula provinces. The country also saw deadly unrest after disputed elections in October 2024.

History

Mozambique became independent from Portugal in 1975 after a long liberation war led by FRELIMO. A civil war between the FRELIMO government and the RENAMO rebel movement followed and lasted until the 1992 Rome peace accords. RENAMO later became the main opposition party, and a further peace agreement was signed in 2019.

Cabo Delgado, in the far north, is one of the country’s poorest provinces, but large offshore natural gas reserves were discovered there in 2010. The insurgency that began in 2017 led a major international gas project to suspend work in 2021. Rwandan troops and a Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission were deployed in 2021 to support Mozambican forces.

Main parties

Mozambique Defence Armed Forces (FADM) — National army, supported by Rwandan forces and local militias.
Islamic State Mozambique Province — Known locally as al-Shabaab (not related to the Somali group).

Key dates

2017-10-05 — Insurgents attack Mocímboa da Praia.
2021-03-24 — Insurgents attack the town of Palma.
2021-07 — Rwandan troops and the SADC mission (SAMIM) deploy.
2024-07 — The SADC mission ends.
2024-10-09 — General elections are followed by months of protests and unrest.

Humanitarian situation

Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in Cabo Delgado. Many have returned to their home districts, but renewed attacks cause repeated displacement, and cyclones regularly strike the coast.

How to read reports about Mozambique

Access for journalists to Cabo Delgado is limited; many reports come from local monitors and aid agencies.

Recent events

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