Cabo Delgado, the northern coastal part of Mozambique: turbulent past, chaotic present… and prosperous future?

The importance of Mozambique's northern coastal province of Cabo Delgado has increased with the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, although it was no less important before. In the last ten years, large reserves of natural gas and gemstones have been discovered and the last few years have seen the rise of a jihadist movement under the aegis of the Islamic State. Russian aggression has increased Europe's appetite for natural gas in its desire to reduce Russian energy dependence. The discovery of natural gas in Mozambique has created huge opportunities for the poor country, as international gas companies have invested heavily in Cabo Delgado. Although the past and present of the region is very chaotic and unstable, the future could be prosperous if the problems highlighted in this study are mitigated.

Keywords: Mozambique, Cabo Delgado, ASWJ, LNG, FLNG, interventional forces