Beheadings in Mozambique: Islamist Jihadists aren’t only to blame - expert

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for killing and displacing people - but experts in Mozambique don’t believe it’s that simple to blame Islamic militants for the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in the southern African country. Complicated social conditions, ethnic rivalries, criminal gangs including drug traffickers, government corruption, elites and global corporate bosses turning a blind eye to the needs of the desperately poor communities around one of Africa’s biggest liquified gas investments are among the other factors playing into extreme violence. South African mercenaries are also interfering. Speaking to BizNews editor at large Jackie Cameron, Professor Adriano Nuvunga of the Centre for Democracy and Development in Mozambique says the solution is dialogue and that French multinational Total, behind the big liquefied natural gas (#lng) investment in the area, has been late in engaging with stakeholders. It should have done more to allow locals to benefit from the development, given the fragility of the situation, says the Mozambique expert. South African mercenaries have been hired to help the Mozambique government, but Prof Nuvunga says this exacerbate the problems in the long run. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices