On territoriality of the Mozambican insurgency: Controlling lands of the slander cape?

ABSTRACT

The article covers the territorial dimension of the north Mozambican insurgency. Based on the analysis of the local context and security, economic and identity dimension, it measures the level of territorial control of Ansar al-Sunna. The analysis argues that despite a success of the group to dominate over some population centres, the actual level of territorial presence is rather low. As such, Ansar al-Sunna does not present a viable alternative for the local population and thus creates an opportunity for the state administration to uproot its presence and recapture the region of Cabo Delgado in case it is able to provide meaningful services to its inhabitants.

KEYWORDS:

• Territoriality
• Mozambique
• Islamic State

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Doboš, Riegl and Landovský, Territoriality of Radical Islamist Groups, 31–59.

2 Morier-Genoud, ‘The Jihadi Insurgency in Mozambique’, 397.

3 Herbst, States and Power in Africa, 150.

4 Habibe, Forquilha and Pereira, ‘Islamic Radicalization in Northern Mozambique’, 24; Bonate, ‘Muslims of Northern Mozambique and the Liberation Movements’.

5 CSVR, ‘Humanizing Security in Cabo Delgado’, 6

6 See Sambo, ‘Frictions and Hybridity’.

7 Warner, O´Farrell, Nsaibia and Cummings, The Islamic State in Africa, 255.

8 Heyen-Dubé and Rands, ‘Evolving Doctrine and Modus Operandi’, 9–11.

9 Warner, O´Farrell, Nsaibia and Cummings, The Islamic State in Africa, 253.

10 Mutasa and Muchemwa, ‘Ansar al-Sunna Mozambique’; International Crisis Group, Stemming the Insurrection in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado; Mlambo and Masuku, ‘Terror at the Front Gate’.

11 Alberdi and Barroso, ‘Broadening the Analysis of Peace in Mozambique’; Okunade, Faluyi and Matambo, ‘Evolving Patterns of Insurgency in Southern and West Africa’.

12 International Crisis Group, ‘Stemming the Insurrection in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado’.

13 Habibe, Forquilha and Pereira, ‘Islamic Radicalization in Northern Mozambique’, 16, 21–3.

14 Hansen, Forever Wars?, 10; International Crisis Group, Stemming the Insurrection in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado.

15 Hansen, Forever Wars?, 9–10.

16 Warner, O´Farrell, Nsaibia and Cummings, The Islamic State in Africa, 257.

17 Morier-Genoud, ‘The Jihadi Insurgency in Mozambique’, 401–3; Heyen-Dubé and Rands, ‘Evolving Doctrine and Modus Operandi’, 7–9.

18 Okunade, Faluyi and Matambo, ‘Evolving Patterns of Insurgency in Southern and West Africa’.

19 Mutasa and Muchemwa, ‘Ansar al-Sunna Mozambique’; Okunade, Faluyi and Matambo, ‘Evolving Patterns of Insurgency in Southern and West Africa’; International Crisis Group, ‘Stemming the Insurrection in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado’; Mlambo and Masuku, ‘Terror at the Front Gate’.

20 Okunade, Faluyi and Matambo, ‘Evolving Patterns of Insurgency in Southern and West Africa’, 440.

21 Bonate, ‘Muslims of Northern Mozambique and the Liberation Movements’, 281.

22 Habibe, Forquilha and Pereira, ‘Islamic Radicalization in Northern Mozambique’, 11–12.

23 Warner, O´Farrell, Nsaibia and Cummings, The Islamic State in Africa, 256.

24 Warner, O´Farrell, Nsaibia and Cummings, The Islamic State in Africa, 259–61.

25 Morier-Genoud, ‘The Jihadi Insurgency in Mozambique’, 406; Okunade, Faluyi and Matambo, ‘Evolving Patterns of Insurgency in Southern and West Africa’, 440.

26 Fishman, The Master Plan

27 Alberdi and Barroso, ‘Broadening the Analysis of Peace in Mozambique’, 240.

28 Morier-Genoud, ‘The Jihadi Insurgency in Mozambique: Origins, Nature and Beginning’.

29 Strategic Comments, ‘The Islamist Insurgency in Mozambique’.

30 Ramani, Russia in Africa, 163–234

31 Jones et al., ‘Russia´s Corporate Soldiers’; Business Live, ‘Putin Signs Energy and Security Deals with Mozambique’; Sukhankin, ‘Russia Prepares a Foothold in Mozambique’.

32 Daniel and Falcão, ‘Mozambique’.

33 Hansen, Horn, Sahel and Rift, 18–23.

34 Sack, ‘Human Territoriality: A Theory’.

35 Sack, Human Territoriality: Its Theory and History

36 Kahler and Walter, Territoriality and Conflict in an Era of Globalization, 3.

37 Vollaard, ‘The Logic of Political Territoriality’.

38 Agnew, Globalization and Sovereignty, 79; Soja, The Political Organization of Space, 11–5; Friedrichs, ‘The Meaning of New Medievalism’.

39 Doboš, New Middle Ages.

40 Doboš, Riegl and Landovský, Territoriality of Radical Islamist Groups.

41 Doboš, Riegl and Landovský, Territoriality of Radical Islamist Groups.

42 Barlow, The War for Africa, 427.

43 Interrogation Report.

44 Heyen-Dubé and Rands, ‘Evolving Doctrine and Modus Operandi’, 11; Barlow, E. The War for Africa, 428.

45 Heyen-Dubé and Rands, ‘Evolving Doctrine and Modus Operandi’, 12–6; Warner, O´Farrell, Nsaibia and Cummings, The Islamic State in Africa, 265.

46 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, ‘Mozambique: Situation Report’

47 Evident for example from data at https://ucdp.uu.se/country/541.

48 Njelezi, ‘Insurgency and Subversion’

49 UCDP, ‘Mozambique’

50 Barlow, The War for Africa, 428.

51 Habibe, Forquilha and Pereira, ‘Islamic Radicalization in Northern Mozambique’, 28–31.

52 Warner, O´Farrell, Nsaibia and Cummings, The Islamic State in Africa, 259.

53 Heyen-Dubé and Rands, ‘Evolving Doctrine and Modus Operandi’, 18–9.

54 Mutasa and Muchemwa, ‘Ansar al-Sunna Mozambique’, 12.

55 BBC, ‘How Mozambique’s Smuggling Barons Nurtured Jihadists’.

56 Mutasa and Muchemwa, ‘Ansar al-Sunna Mozambique’, 5.

57 International Crisis Group, ‘Stemming the Insurrection in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado’.

58 Heyen-Dubé and Rands, ‘Evolving Doctrine and Modus Operandi’, 19–20.

59 Warner, O´Farrell, Nsaibia and Cummings, The Islamic State in Africa, 265.

60 See Doboš, Riegl and Landovský, Territoriality of Radical Islamist Groups, 98–102, 108–12.

61 Obaji Jr, ‘ISIS’s West African Offshoot is Following Al Qaeda’s Rule for Success’.

62 Doboš and Riegl, ‘Between the Hammer and the Anvil’.

63 Olson, ‘Dictatorship, Democracy and Development’.

64 Barlow, The War for Africa

65 CSVR, ‘Humanizing Security in Cabo Delgado’, 10

66 Shield, ‘Rwanda´s War in Mozambique’.

67 Barlow, Composite Warfare

68 Barlow, HUMINT Operations – Supporting Composite Warfare Operations in Africa

69 Barlow, Composite Warfare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Charles University [Grant Number: COOPERATIO].