Mozambican Military Battles Major Jihadist Attack in Macomia

On Friday, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi announced that the country's military is fighting a major attack by jihadist militants in the town of Macomia, located in the restive Cabo Delgado region. The attack, believed to be the largest in a series of offensives since early this year, began in the morning with hundreds of militants attempting to enter the town.

Why this matters: The resurgence of jihadist violence in Cabo Delgado has significant implications for regional security and the global energy market, as Mozambique's gas reserves could play a crucial role in meeting growing demand. The outcome of this battle will likely influence the trajectory of the insurgency and the future of foreign investment in the region.

According to President Nyusi, Mozambican troops put up a "strong resistance" and forced the militants to withdraw after 45 minutes of intense fighting. However, the jihadists regrouped and launched a second attack on the town. Local media reports suggest that a significant number of fighters are involved in the offensive.

The attack on Macomia comes as French energy giant TotalEnergies is seeking to restart work on a $20-billion liquefied natural gas project in Cabo Delgado. The region is home to significant gas deposits discovered in 2010, which could potentially make Mozambique one of the world's top 10 gas exporters if fully exploited.

However, an insurgency waged by Islamic State-linked militants in Cabo Delgado since 2017 has stalled progress on the gas projects. The conflict has claimed more than 5,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. In July 2021, forces from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) were deployed to Mozambique to help the government regain control of the region.

Despite initial progress made by the foreign troops, 2024 has seen a resurgence in jihadist violence across Cabo Delgado. The province has witnessed a significant surge in attacks, with over 110,000 people displaced since the end of last year, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The ongoing battle in Macomia highlights the challenges faced by Mozambique in quelling the Islamist insurgency and securing the gas-rich region. As President Nyusi stated, "Macomia is under attack since this morning. Fire exchange still continues." The outcome of this major offensive will likely have significant implications for the security situation in Cabo Delgado and the future of the region's gas industry.