Illicit Markets and Insurgency in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique

Africa and the Global Illicit Economy

The attack on Palma last year made international headlines but for five years, Mozambique has been the site of a violent insurgency. The armed jihadist group, Ansar Al-Sunna, has terrorised communities in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. It’s believed that more than 3000 people have been killed, and over 700,000 displaced.

Despite international recognition and a regional military response, the insurgency remains. In this episode of Africa and the Global Illicit Economy we explore the origins and drivers of the insurgency, whether there are links to the various illicit economies in northern Mozambique, and its security implications for the region.

Presenter: Lindy Mtongana

Speaker: Julia Stanyard, Senior Analyst, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Additional Reading:

Civil Society Observatory of Illicit Economies in Eastern and Southern Africa - Risk Bulletin - Issue 24

Cabo Delgado: Africa's Forgotten Insurgency - Africa and the Global Illicit Economy

Insurgency and Illicit trade in Northern Mozambique - Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime

Scratching the surface: Tracing coloured gemstone flows from Mozambique and Malawi to Asia

Crime, conflict and corruption: Nampula as a smuggling hub