By Zahid Jadwat
A helicopter apparently being used by private military contractors from South Africa had to make an emergency landing after being hit by forces believed to be part of an “Islamist insurgency” on Quirimbas Island, in the far north Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, last week Friday.
The Daily Maverick reported that the helicopters belonged to the Dyck Advisory Group. These helicopter crews were presumably contracted to the Mozambican police and were involved in air attacks in other insurgent-held areas during last week.
On Thursday, the armed groups landed on Quirimbas, part of the Mozambican archipelago that includes Ibo Island.
During an attempt to strike the insurgent groups on the island, one of the helicopters was hit and eventually destroyed. The crew, however, was rescued.
The Mozambican authorities are reportedly contracting these “foreign fighters” in a plan to tackle the elusive armed gangs who have taken over several towns and erected the Islamic State flag in these regions of the Cabo Delgado province.
Northern Mozambique is rich in natural gas with some of the largest reserves in the world. The resource has drawn the attention of international energy companies from both the east and west, and with it the sudden emergence of these so-called Islamist groups.
Jasmine Opperman, an analyst at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) project, said that the violence has increased “tremendously over the last six months to the extent that the insurgents have captured main towns”.
Opperman was speaking on The Alternative View yesterday morning on Salaamedia.
A key ingredient to understanding what is actually happening on the ground lies in deciphering who supports these forces with money, guns and logistical support – not surprisingly in another region rich in natural resources.
“What is happening in Cabo Delgado is the internationalisation of local insurgency. Foreign interests are becoming pronounced. That means that these interests are playing out in Cabo Delgado. The role of foreign intelligence agencies and foreign companies cannot be ignored. And yes, the Mozambican government is highly sceptical of western support or what they actually stand to gain,” said Opperman.
The Mozambican armed forces have found it extremely difficult to make any headway against the insurgents. “The Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) has displayed their flag. They call on people to either join them or support them. If not, they will be killed.”
In the latest Indian Ocean attacks, two vessels were used to reach island from the mainland.
“What we are seeing is typical Islamic State strategy. We are talking of an international terror group,” said Opperman. “Where they can converge the local narrative of strong anti-government sentiment, due to a long historical context, with their extremist ideas and ludicrous interpretation of Islam, trying to converge the two and gain support of the locals and demonstrate and show that they can attack and be present despite the loss of its Caliphate.”
According to Opperman, the Cabo Delgado province has always been the step-child of the Mozambican government where crime syndicates and other illegalities flourished, often with the knowledge of officials. Now with the discovery of gas, the region has gained prominence.
“Initially the government called these insurgents, bandits. They classified it as organised crime and underestimated the influence as the insurgency has evolved. And now they sit with a problem. They don’t have the military and police capacity to counter the insurgency.”
Listen to the full discussion here:
Featured image from Daily Maverick.
