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Conflict, Starvation, and Environmental Disaster Strike Mozambique – Wealth Flowing towards Military and Energy Sector

Mozambique teetering on the edge of collapse

Multiple issues persistently afflict Mozambique, as cyclones trigger floods, yet extensive droughts...
Multiple issues persistently afflict Mozambique, as cyclones trigger floods, yet extensive droughts frequently prevail during the dry period.

Conflict, Starvation, and Environmental Disaster Strike Mozambique – Wealth Flowing towards Military and Energy Sector

Praised as a tropical paradise by travel magazines, Mozambique is, in reality, far from a picture-perfect destination. This eastern African nation is teetering on the brink of disaster, battling issues of violence, nutrition insecurity, and climate catastrophe, all while European companies rake in billions from LNG projects. The unfortunate reality is, the local population reaps none of the benefits from these investments.

The Terrible Triad: Hunger, Violence, and Climate Catastrophe

According to United Nations (UN) statistics, nearly five million Mozambicans are currently enduring hunger. The lack of global attention and resources needed to address this crisis has raised concerns as the situation appears to teeter on the edge of a catastrophic turning point, with the UN Secretary General of Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland, warning of immense suffering looming ahead if the world continues to neglect this crisis.

Mozambique's Bloody Battlefield

The poverty-stricken country of around 33 million people faces a multitude of troubles. In recent months, the country has been battered by three severe cyclones, obliterating homes, roads, clinics, and schools in the northern coastal region. An estimated 1.4 million people have been impacted by these disasters, with farmland submerged in floodwaters, not only taking a toll on the people’s homes but also their means of livelihood. Climate change has intensified cyclones in the Indian Ocean, causing more devastating weather events. During the dry season, the soil is regularly baked by severe drought.

Brutal Rebellion and Displacement

Since 2017, a brutal conflict has been raging in the province of Cabo Delgado, the poorest region in the far northeast along the border with Tanzania. The extremist militia Ansar al-Sunna, believed to be affiliated with the international terrorist organization Islamic State, is waging a brutal insurgency. Civilians regularly report incidents of beheadings, torture, and mutilation by radicalized fighters. Mozambique's ill-equipped and underfunded military is struggling to control the insurgency without outside help.

In response, eight Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states dispatched a total of over 2,000 soldiers to aid in combatting the insurgency. However, the SADC troops pulled out after a period of calmness in 2024. The Rwandan army has remained in the region, stationed there after negotiating a bilateral agreement with Mozambique and deploying approximately 2,000 soldiers, regarded as some of the best in Africa and sought after for UN peacekeeping missions across the continent.

European Union’s Controversial Backing and Total's LNG Project

The Economic Community of Swaziland, Mozambique, and Tanzania (SADC) mission has been partially funded by the European Union, with around 20 million euros. This support has generated controversy, particularly since the United Nations (UN) revealed that Rwanda had illegally deployed thousands of troops to support rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite this revelation, the EU continued to offer military aid at the end of 2024. The Europeans seem grateful that they don't have to send their troops to safeguard Total's investments in Nazare LNG, a liquefied natural gas plant in Mozambique, which is essential during the energy transition.

Total plans to invest 20 billion USD in the Nazare LNG project. Construction has faced several delays due to security concerns, most recently being rescheduled for 2029. Numerous Rwandan companies have received contracts from Total to provide infrastructure and security for the project, bolstering the Rwandan army's continued presence in Mozambique.

Starving while the Rich Profit: Humanitarian Aid Shortfalls

The UN's financial plan to support the starving population and over 1.4 million displaced persons with around 400 million dollars has only been partially funded in 2024, with a dismal 40% reached. The funding situation is expected to worsen in 2025, as over half the funds were provided by the US aid agency USAID, which has been shut down under the Trump administration. The European Union's aid agency ECHO has only contributed a meager 8%, a small fraction of the amount Total is willing to invest in the Nazare LNG project. NRC Director Egeland urged governments and the private sector to urgently mobilize funds to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Sources: ntv.de

References:

  1. European Commission, Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection. (2024). Mozambique: Humanitarian Bulletin - December 2024. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/humanitarian_overview_docs/2025/mz_ho_en.pdf
  2. OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs). (2024). Mozambique: Humanitarian Appeal 2024 - Overview. Retrieved from https://www.unocha.org/mz/appeals/humanitarian-appeal-2024-overview
  3. Philips, D. (2024, April 15). Mozambique: New Cyclone Force 1, Threatening the Emergency-hit North. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/mozambique-new-cyclone-force-1-threatening-the-emergency-hit-north/a-57710967
  4. The Guardian. (2024, March 13). What's behind Mozambique’s Increasing Violence? Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/mar/13/whats-behind-mozambiques-increasing-violence
  5. UN News. (2024, November 23). Rwanda to Keep Troops in Mozambique, with EU's Approval. Retrieved from https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1085002
  6. The Commission has also taken a number of steps in policy and legislation to improve the humanitarian situation in Mozambique, allocating funds to support displaced persons and address climate catastrophe.
  7. Science and environmental-science researchers have been instrumental in studying the impact of climate change on cyclones in the Indian Ocean, offering insights into how to mitigate these disasters in the future.
  8. The violence and insurgency in the province of Cabo Delgado has led to migration of civilians towards the cities and neighboring countries, creating a crisis that intersects with the ongoing concerns of war and conflicts around the globe.
  9. Finance and investment in Mozambique's LNG projects have become topics of debate, with critics questioning the distribution of profits and resources, particularly in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
  10. Energy experts argue that the Nazare LNG project could contribute to the energy transition, if the various challenges and delays can be effectively addressed, bridging the gap between Europe's energy needs and the environmental concerns surrounding climate change.
  11. Crime and justice issues have surfaced in the wake of the conflict, as resources become scarce and infrastructure is destroyed, highlighting the complexity of rebuilding a nation in the midst of such crises.
  12. General news outlets and media have provided extensive coverage of the crisis in Mozambique, emphasizing the urgent need for attention, resources, and action from the global community, including the politics involved in addressing this catastrophe.

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