G7 Ministers 'concern' over growing conflict in Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado

LONDON, UK

The G7 Foreign and Development Ministers on Wednesday expressed concern about the growing conflict in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, calling on Mozambique to “continue to work with the international community to resolve the humanitarian impact of the insurgency and to tackle the root causes and drivers of conflict and instability, and to prevent a further escalation of violence”.

“We are deeply concerned by the escalating conflict in Cabo Delgado, and the increasing terrorist attacks by an ISIS affiliate [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria]. We urge Mozambique to hold accountable those responsible for human rights abuses and violations in Cabo Delgado.” The heads of diplomacy of the seven states say in a joint statement. [The “G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting: Communiqué” may be accessed  HERE]

The document was published after the first G7 face-to-face meeting in more than two years, bringing together those responsible for external relations from Germany, Canada, the United States of America, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.

“We encourage Mozambique to continue to work with the international community to resolve the humanitarian impact of the insurgency and to tackle the root causes and drivers of conflict and instability, and to prevent a further escalation of violence,” the communique from London continues.

The group’s diplomats “welcome the Government of Mozambique’s work to respond to the humanitarian and security situation in the north” and thank the Mozambican government for its “timely consideration of international support.”

“We express our solidarity with the Government of Mozambique and its people in standing up to violent extremism,” they conclude.´

Armed groups have terrorised Cabo Delgado since 2017, with some attacks claimed by the jihadist group Islamic State, in a wave of violence that has already caused more than 2,500 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project, and displaced 714,000 people, according to the Mozambican government.

The most recent attack, on March 24, was carried out against the town of Palma, causing dozens of deaths and injuries in numbers yet to be ascertained.

Mozambican authorities regained control of the town, but the attack led oil company Total to indefinitely abandon the main construction site of the gas project scheduled to start production in 2024, on which many of Mozambique’s expectations for economic growth in the next decade are based.