Teachers and researchers at a state university in Mozambique believe that the country’s defense and security forces are neither prepared nor committed to fighting the armed groups that attack the north of the country and that distrust is growing.
“The defense and security forces are not engaged [committed] to the level of the existing threat”, reads a report on the security situation in the country, prepared by the Center for Strategic and International Studies at Joaquim Chissano University.
The document makes reference to the recent attacks on Quissanga and Mocímboa da Praia, where a barracks was occupied and an Islamic State flag was raised.
The authors emphasize the fact: “A barracks the size of that invaded was not able to contain the enemy advance and, above all, the defense and security forces had no information about the attack and the defense device was completely inoperable”.
“The surprise of the attack cannot be explained in a region where forces must remain in combative readiness and with [high] alert levels,” he says, adding that “security systems cannot be relaxed”.
With the incursion, the authors continue, “it has been proved that the group operating in Cabo Delgado is better equipped than the defense and security forces there” and that “confidence in military superiority contrasts with the lack of morale of the Mozambican forces. for not having the capacity in the necessary means “.
The report argues that the government should improve troop conditions “so that they do not become easily overwhelmed by the terrorist group’s financial offers” and adds that there is “a need to investigate some military personnel”.
“There is growing suspicion about the leakage of information to terrorists, where there is the collaboration of some military personnel”, he adds, alluding to suspicions of “corruption schemes within the forces”, with “an urgent need to increase the number, tasks, missions and functions of the Military Police “.
On the other hand, the authors say that Mozambique “must” use diplomatic channels to work with partners with sufficient resources “to provide support of various kinds, namely,” training special Mozambican units in combating terrorism “.
The African Union and the United Nations are two partners cited, but stressing that aid must be taken care of, as there are examples in the world “that demonstrate the weak effectiveness of cooperation initiatives”.
The “insurgency” dimension
Following the opinion of analysts expressed since the beginning of the armed attacks in October 2017, researchers at Joaquim Chissano University consider that Mozambique “needs to do an urgent study to understand the dimension of the problem of the insurgency in Cabo Delgado”, pointing as an example the research carried out in Nigeria regarding the attacks by the Boko Haram group.
The document notes that “the voices that condemn the apathetic attitude of the Mozambican government towards the worsening security situation in Cabo Delgado are beginning to grow”.
“Videos and messages on social networks criticize the posture of the executive led by President Nyusi and question his choices for the defense and interior portfolio”, say the analysts.
“These opinions show a growing discouragement and disgust for the situation in Cabo Delgado”, concludes the analysis.
A source from Joaquim Chissano University told Lusa that security reports like this are prepared every two months by professors and researchers from the Center for Strategic and International Studies and that have helped Banco de Moçambique to make decisions.
The institution concluded that due to its relevance, it should start to publicly disclose it from this.
The report, which in addition to the situation in Cabo Delgado also addresses the risks to the country of the pandemic of the covid-19 respiratory disease, is by Énio Chingotuane and Carlos Faria, both from the Peace and Security department, and Jossias Filipe, from the Economics department.
The Joaquim Chissano University arose from the merger of the Higher Institute of International Relations (ISRI), to which the center belonged, and the Higher Institute of Public Administration (ISAP), within the scope of reforms in the sector between 2018 and 2019.
Cabo Delgado province has been the target of attacks by armed groups that international organizations classify as a terrorist threat and that in two and a half years have already killed at least 350 people, in addition to 156,400 people affected by loss of property or forced to abandon home and land in search of safe locations.
At the end of March, the villages of Mocímboa da Praia and Quissanga were invaded by the group, which destroyed several infrastructures and hoisted its flag in a barracks of the Defense and Security Forces of Mozambique.
