Interpreting Group Tactics and the Role of the Governments Response in the Crisis in Cabo Delgado: Lessons for Combatting Violent Extremism in Africa
Abstract
The emergence of an extremist group in Mozambique's northern province of Cabo Delgado, with a particular penchant for brutal attacks against security officials and ordinary citizens alike, has prompted many to re-examine Mozambique's social and conflict dynamics. Our report makes use of on-the-ground interviews with subjects from a variety of sectors and backgrounds, many of whom have direct connections to stakeholders in Cabo Delgado, to (1) provide an overview of what is currently known about the origins and drivers of the violent extremist threat in Cabo Delgado; (2) describe the ongoing violence in significant detail and examines the implications of the extremist groups tactics, with a particular emphasis on the brutality of the groups attacks; (3) review how the Mozambican government has responded to the threat of violent extremism in the North; and (4) compare events in Mozambique with the conflict currently occurring in Burkina Faso. By analyzing the similarities and differences between these two conflicts, we able to draw out lessons from the patterns and distinctions among these countries and about the circumstances that allow violent extremism to emerge and spread.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1131693
Entities
People
- Austin C. Swift
- Dorina A. Bekoe
- Sarah A. Daly
- Stephanie M. Burchard
Organizations
- Institute for Defense Analyses