The war in Cabo Delgado is now in its fourth year. The human suffering has been
\nincalculable, with currently over 750 000 persons displaced, and many thousands
\nkilled. The international community has repeatedly been shocked by reports of
\nextreme brutality.
\nThe situation on the ground is becoming increasingly complex, with the entry of
\nmilitary personnel from at least seven countries \u2013 some in a training capacity, others
\nas \u201cboots on the ground\u201d.
\nAnalysts and commentators, both within Mozambique and abroad, point out the
\ncomplexity of factors fueling the conflict. Nevertheless, the mainstream media has
\nconsistently focused almost exclusively on the Islamic angle \u2013 that this is a religious
\nwar, with the insurgents intending to establish a Caliphate in Northern Mozambique.
\nThis point of view is not shared by many in Mozambique. Furthermore, there is a
\npersistent and widely held belief amongst the displaced themselves that the real
\nreason for the war is to drive them off their land, to give access to prospectors and
\nmining companies. This report gives a voice to those directly affected by the conflict
\n\u2013 a voice that is almost never heard in the global corridors of power.
\nIt is clear that there can be no solution until the true causes of the conflict are
\naddressed. The report explores the contributing factors \u2013 from the \u201chidden debt\u201d
\nscandal that preceded the conflict, effectively bankrupting the Mozambican state, to
\nissues relating to land tenure and the granting of mining and prospecting
\nconcessions. The report exposes those who are profiteering from the ongoing
\nconflict. In the past, the Mozambican government rejected the idea of dialogue and
\nnegotiations with the insurgents, saying that they were dealing with a \u201cfaceless
\nenemy\u201d. The report puts faces and names to the insurgency leaders, thereby
\nhopefully contributing to the momentum for a non-military, negotiated solution.
\nThe report comes at a critical crossroads in the conflict \u2013 with the entry of SADC and
\nRwandan troops. It is hoped that it will contribute to a greater global understanding
\nof the situation, and to a sustained peace, whereby the people of Cabo Delgado will
\nbe able to live productive lives, benefiting from the enormous wealth of their region.<\/p>\n