Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Can Mozambique beat its Islamist insurgency? Since 2017, Mozambique has faced a brutal conflict in Cabo Delgado, where militants linked to the Islamic State, known locally as Ansar al-Sunnah or Al-Shabab, launched a violent uprising that has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced over one million. Despite military support from Rwanda, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the European Union, and earlier involvement by private military contractors, the insurgency has proved resilient. At the same time, attacks on key energy projects, including major natural gas investments by Total and Exxon, have shaken investor confidence and threatened one of Africa’s most significant emerging LNG hubs. And even though government forces have retaken major towns, a recent spike in violence shows the militants are far from defeated.
This video examines the roots of the Mozambique conflict, from the country’s colonial history and civil war legacy to poverty, marginalisation, and disputes over northern Mozambique gas revenues. From there, the video explores why the Cabo Delgado insurgency has persisted despite international counterterrorism efforts. Key questions raised are whether military force alone can defeat the Islamic State–affiliated militants, and what role governance, development, and regional security cooperation should play in ending the crisis. Drawing on the wider lessons of insurgency and counterinsurgency, this analysis explores whether Mozambique can achieve lasting stability, or whether the cycle of violence in northern Mozambique is set to continue.
*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:50 Insurgencies and the Case of Mozambique
01:53 Mozambique: Location, Population, and Religion
02:40 The Emergence of Mozambique
03:52 The Mozambique Civil War and Reconstruction
04:54 The Rise of the Cabo Delgado Insurgency
06:00 Efforts to Defeat the Mozambique Insurgency
08:47 Counterinsurgency in Mozambique: Success and Setbacks
10:23 Can Mozambique Defeat Its Islamist Insurgency?
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Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know
Oxford University Press global.oup.com/academic/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049
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Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel at no additional cost to you.
#Mozambique #CaboDelgado #Rwanda
Can Mozambique beat its Islamist insurgency? Since 2017, Mozambique has faced a brutal conflict in Cabo Delgado, where militants linked to the Islamic State, known locally as Ansar al-Sunnah or Al-Shabab, launched a violent uprising that has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced over one million. Despite military support from Rwanda, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the European Union, and earlier involvement by private military contractors, the insurgency has proved resilient. At the same time, attacks on key energy projects, including major natural gas investments by Total and Exxon, have shaken investor confidence and threatened one of Africa’s most significant emerging LNG hubs. And even though government forces have retaken major towns, a recent spike in violence shows the militants are far from defeated.
This video examines the roots of the Mozambique conflict, from the country’s colonial history and civil war legacy to poverty, marginalisation, and disputes over northern Mozambique gas revenues. From there, the video explores why the Cabo Delgado insurgency has persisted despite international counterterrorism efforts. Key questions raised are whether military force alone can defeat the Islamic State–affiliated militants, and what role governance, development, and regional security cooperation should play in ending the crisis. Drawing on the wider lessons of insurgency and counterinsurgency, this analysis explores whether Mozambique can achieve lasting stability, or whether the cycle of violence in northern Mozambique is set to continue.
*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:50 Insurgencies and the Case of Mozambique
01:53 Mozambique: Location, Population, and Religion
02:40 The Emergence of Mozambique
03:52 The Mozambique Civil War and Reconstruction
04:54 The Rise of the Cabo Delgado Insurgency
06:00 Efforts to Defeat the Mozambique Insurgency
08:47 Counterinsurgency in Mozambique: Success and Setbacks
10:23 Can Mozambique Defeat Its Islamist Insurgency?
*SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS*
If you enjoy the channel and would like to support independent analysis of international relations, conflict, and security, there are several ways you can help:
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
youtube.com/channel/UCEszqJb1FjYisBevHBIof3g
youtube.com/c/JamesKerLindsay?sub_confirmation=1
JOIN THE COMMUNITY AND BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER
YouTube: youtube.com/c/JamesKerLindsay/join
Patreon: patreon.com/JamesKerLindsay
*MY LATEST BOOK!*
Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know
Oxford University Press global.oup.com/academic/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049
Amazon amzn.to/2MPY3W2
Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel at no additional cost to you.
#Mozambique #CaboDelgado #Rwanda
