Assessment Of Mozambique’s Security Policies In Countering International Terrorism Under Global Security Framework

2017 marks the beginning of insurgency in Cabo Delgado,Mozambique.More than one third of Mozambique’s Muslims live in this region in the north of the country,where 54% of the population is Muslim.However,there are also a sizeable number of Christians in this area.The Muslims are Mwani who are known for their support of RENAMO party which is the main opposition;whereas the Makonde are the majority who are followers of the ruling party FRELIMO.Portuguese colonization which wanted to retain the Makonde for arduous work in building and farming regardless of their being christianized by the Portuguese,attempted to incorporate the Mwani in administrative and military roles.This resulted in political divisions between the two groups.Many Makondé emigrated to Tanzania’s neighbor after feeling ignored and discriminated against by the Portuguese and when they returned,they were wealthier and were in the war for independence from Portugal.They were able to bring into being the FRELIMO liberation movement or association.For their contributions to Mozambique’s independence,the Makondé received prizes and pensions when FRELIMO came to power after independence.Many Mwani,however,assert that they actively participated in the fight for independence but their crucial contribution is not acknowledged in the nation’s official history.Hence,a person’s social and economic status in Cabo Delgado is determined by their ethnicity.Currently,Cabo Delgado is experiencing social,economic and ethno-religious disturbances.The idea that the state is unable to provide for the needs of the public has been reinforced by a strong sense of societal unfairness and prejudice across religious and ethnic grounds.The insurgency’s original aims were to target offices and structures belonging to the government.At a later stage,they began to attack churches,killing innocent people,kidnapping and robbing them of their belongings.The unemployed and marginalized young people who support the jihadists,who declare their determination to impose Islamic rule in the area(Cabo Delgado)were prone to radicalization.Different authors argue that certain socioeconomic conditions,political instabilities,religious and ethnic differences,lack of human security,land insecurities and events that have been allowed to occur have directly contributed to the deterioration of the security situation in Mozambique,allowing insurgents to commit terror attacks in the northern region(Cabo Delgado)and destabilize the country by plunging it into a war of terrorism.In addition,other scholars say that despite the insurgency’s origins in religious radicalism,serious structural issues still exist in the Cabo Delgado.It is necessary to assess how terrorist activity has affected Mozambique’s national security and the country’s prospects for achieving peace and stability.In addition,it is necessary to examine the factors that limit Mozambique’s security policies in combating international terrorism within the global security framework.This also necessitates an analysis of the obstacles encountered by the Mozambican Security apparatus.In order to realize the reasons behind Mozambique’s terrorism or insurgency,the study will seek to answer four research questions: How terrorist attacks impacted Mozambique’s national security and prospects for peace and stability? Evaluate the external and internal factors that hinders Mozambique’s security policies in combating international terrorism within the context of global security? To investigate the obstacles Mozambique faces in combating international terrorism under the global security framework? Establish a conceptual framework that can be utilized to strengthen the fight against international terrorism within the context of a global security framework.In attempting to answer these questions,the findings of the study show that poverty,inequalities and underdevelopment result from people,communities and organizations that lack the means and abilities required to ensure their own well-being.It has been demonstrated that disenfranchisement,marginalization and discontent all contribute to social disorder.Mozambique has been impacted by destabilization as a result of insurgency and terrorism for at least three brief periods,prompting the development of security protocols designed to prevent similar security breaches from occurring.The study comprises of five chapters.Chapter one covers the introductory part of the study which includes;background of the study,research questions,the significance of study,limitations and restrictions,methodology,literature review and thesis structure.The research gives a background and history of terrorism in Mozambique,and the significance of the study,and the methods used for the study which involves observation,desk reviews and telephone interviews.In this chapter,different literatures from different authors was used to compile the data for the research.Chapter two explains terrorist situation in Mozambique.The first phase will be definition of key terms.The second phase will discuss background to the terrorist situation in Cabo Delgado.The third phase entails factors that causes re-emergence of terrorism in Cabo Delgado which are economic,political,cultural and religious,and geographical.The fourth phase will discuss consequences of terrorism and its local impacts in Mozambique.Lastly,control and prevention measures in combating terrorism in Mozambique will be discussed.Chapter three investigates both domestic,regional and international factors that hinders Mozambique’s security policies in their fight against terrorism.Different cultural,linguistic and socio-economic ties links Mozambique with other countries such as Tanzania.The security situation in Cabo Delgado impacts national security and the use of the notions of governance and the curse of resources were used in the Cabo Delgado rebellion.The Mwani are far less involved in social and economic spheres than the Makonde,which contributes to a strong sense of inequity and discrimination towards them in the region’s general dynamics.Since the region’s independence,social tensions and the possibility of instability have existed.A sizable portion of Mwani disagree with how the nation has been governed ever since it gained its independence,claiming that the FRELIMO ruling class neglected the Mwani’s contribution to Mozambique’s freedom.One of the factors that fueled terrorism in Mozambique is inequalities,corruption and discrepancies that are clearly seen in Cabo Delgado.For example;there are Makondé districts in Mocimboa da Praia,one of the major cities in Cabo Delgado,where signs of affluence are obvious(expensive roofs and doors),while Mwani communities are excluded.It is important to note that the area was among the poorest in the nation prior to the discovery of enormous oil and gas reserves,and basic public services were poorly provided there.Thus,scholars say that despite the insurgency’s origins in religious radicalism,serious structural issues still exist in the area.Chapter four argues about the consequences of terrorism on peace and stability in Mozambique,SADC region and the globe as a whole.Also the challenges faced by Mozambique in combating terrorism within the global security framework will be argued or discussed.Lastly in this chapter,control and prevention measures in combating terrorism in Mozambique will be discussed.One of the consequences is that the growing security situation in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado region is affecting negatively the living conditions and safety of its neighboring countries that share the border with it.This has brought the emergence of a multidimensional security and human danger on a global scale.Lastly,Chapter five will be strategy or policy implementation on what actions or steps that policymakers in Mozambique,at regional and international level should do in helping combat terrorism.Lastly,the researcher will give a conclusion and voice out personal opinions which will be centered on the findings or objectives of this study.