Crisis in Mozambique: A mix bag of political economy and radical Islam
The entire region is under real and severe danger and the spillage of terrorism into neighbouring countries is a matter of time. This explains why Khalifa Khamis Mohammed, a key suspect in the US embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998, was able to cross into Mozambique, and subsequently into South Africa, undetected.
By the time he was arrested in October 1999, he had lived and worked in South Africa for a year with false identity documents.
Another alleged al- Qaeda financier was arrested in South Africa in 2011.
Furthermore, a British citizen linked to al- Shabaab, Samantha Lewthwaite ( a. k. a. the White Widow), lived undetected in South Africa for two years prior to the attack in 2013 on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall.
Investigation by Kenyan authorities revealed that the Westgate attacks were commissioned, planned and financed by al- Shabaab operatives in South Africa.
All of these examples indicate that terrorist sleeper cells exist in the SADC region- recruiting, indoctrinating, financing and coordinating activities. The combination of physical and virtual presence, as well as a strong motivation by terrorists to carry out attacks at all costs, increases the probability of Southern Africa becoming a terrorist hotspot.
The emergence of global jihad, its establishment in Africa, its dissemination through Dawah arrays formed in Africa.
The above, as well as additional reasons contributed to the emergence of the Salafi organisations in Africa.
These organisations directly threaten the peace and stability in the continent, and indirectly threaten Europe and beyond.
Lastly, no region can be spared the spill- over from terror attacks. SADC needs to explore and strengthen inter- regional cooperation, especially on asymmetric warfare, training, cyber security, and intelligence sharing with affected African regions, especially as it concerns cross- border criminality like arms and natural resources smuggling, drug and human trafficking, as well as money laundering as a means to raise funds for terrorism activities.
President Filipe Nyusi could not have been more correct as he is recorded to have stated that - “When it comes to terrorism you cannot fight alone, this is the experience we have now. We must share forces, not just in the region but apparently for Africa’s sake”.
Maj. Gen. Anderson, Commander, Special Operations Command Africa, was also mentioned to have pointed out in August 2020 that “other countries in the region will have to deeply and thoroughly deal with the problem and help Mozambique to contend with the phenomenon. Like Tanzania, Malawi […] terrorists know no borders they will cross borders and seek refuge where they can to keep disrupting regional stability”.