Governance challenges in Cabo Delgado: spinning wheels in the mud

This research paper examines the governance and security challenges in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province, specifically analyzing the impact of the withdrawal of the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) in July 2024. The author argues that the mission's exit, driven by financial constraints and poor coordination, may have created a security void during a period of increasing insurgent activity.

• The Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), which launched in July 2021 and concluded operations on 15 July 2024, faced significant operational hurdles including a chronic lack of equipment and funding due to an overreliance on South Africa's declining defence spending. Additionally, tensions and a lack of trust between the SADC and the Filipe Nyusi Administration hindered information sharing and the coordination of joint operations.
• The timing of SAMIM's withdrawal is criticized as being based on a pre-determined date set in July 2023 rather than an assessment of the actual security situation. This is particularly concerning as the number of attacks in 2024 has already exceeded the total for the previous year, and internally displaced persons have increased in areas such as Ancuabe, Mecufi, and Chiure since December 2023.
• The insurgency in Cabo Delgado, involving groups like Ahlu Sunnah Waljama’a and Al Shabaab (distinct from the Somali group), is driven by a complex mix of factors. These include religious extremism, the lure of financial gains and revenge for state violence, and socio-economic drivers such as poverty, unemployment, and race-based identity issues. The conflict is further complicated by the involvement of ISIS, which seeks to control illegal trade routes for minerals and gas.
• The author contends that military interventions have focused on the superficial aspect of armed conflict while neglecting the root social causes of the insurgency. The Mozambican government is criticized for using the presence of multiple international parties to avoid its own governance responsibilities regarding development and poverty alleviation.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2024). Governance challenges in Cabo Delgado: spinning wheels in the mud. https://saiia.org.za/research/governance-challenges-in-cabo-delgado-spinning-wheels-in-the-mud/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Governance challenges in Cabo Delgado: spinning wheels in the mud. 2024. https://saiia.org.za/research/governance-challenges-in-cabo-delgado-spinning-wheels-in-the-mud/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Governance challenges in Cabo Delgado: spinning wheels in the mud |date=24 October 2024 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/governance-challenges-in-cabo-delgado-spinning-wheels-in-the-mud/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2024governance, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Governance challenges in Cabo Delgado: spinning wheels in the mud}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/governance-challenges-in-cabo-delgado-spinning-wheels-in-the-mud/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }