upepo
Elder Lister
A little publicized conflict has been brewing on the East African coast of Mozambique, pitting a local Islamic militia on one side, against government forces and Oil companies on the other. Although the uprising has been cast by the media as another ISIL adventure, a closer analysis points to a purely economic agenda galvanized by religion.
Map Showing Cabo Delgado Province and the Gas fields
A little more than a decade ago, huge gas deposits were discovered in Cabo Delgado, a remote and poor province in Northern Mozambique. In the intervening decade between then and the present, various multinationals have poured in gas extraction investments to the tune of $60 billion, making this endeavor the biggest of its kind in Africa. The gas projects have created an enclave of economic activity, specifically in a town called Palma, which contrasts sharply with the rest of the region. Residents in the larger province are classified as multidimensionally poor, which is a rung below abject poverty. Over the years, the economic and opportunity disparity between the poor residents and the new occupants has brewed resentment, which is now bubbling to the surface bolstered by religious dogma. These sentiments are not just about economics considering that a sizeable local population was irregularly displaced to create room for the projects.
Apparently, both the government and investors seem to have overestimated the passivity of a population that has been marginalized forever. The local community continues to suffer in deep poverty as foreign companies lay out billions of dollars in investments hoping to reap multiples more. Unfortunately for the investors, they have to confront the possibility that this narrow model of engagement may have failed this time round. Given the religious underpinnings of the uprising, the incorporation of ISIL, and the fact that the projects are close to completion, the conflict is unlikely to resolve in a simple fashion. On the bright side though, this could serve as a wake-up call for governments and investors to pay closer attention to the rights, interests, and welfare of local populations when implementing projects. The era when local populations were clustered together with other fauna is long gone. Corporations have to be answerable to their host populations despite clearing with national governments. It does not spell natural justice when a 21st century industrial complex is built on and surrounded by stone-age deprivation.
Map Showing Cabo Delgado Province and the Gas fields
A little more than a decade ago, huge gas deposits were discovered in Cabo Delgado, a remote and poor province in Northern Mozambique. In the intervening decade between then and the present, various multinationals have poured in gas extraction investments to the tune of $60 billion, making this endeavor the biggest of its kind in Africa. The gas projects have created an enclave of economic activity, specifically in a town called Palma, which contrasts sharply with the rest of the region. Residents in the larger province are classified as multidimensionally poor, which is a rung below abject poverty. Over the years, the economic and opportunity disparity between the poor residents and the new occupants has brewed resentment, which is now bubbling to the surface bolstered by religious dogma. These sentiments are not just about economics considering that a sizeable local population was irregularly displaced to create room for the projects.
Apparently, both the government and investors seem to have overestimated the passivity of a population that has been marginalized forever. The local community continues to suffer in deep poverty as foreign companies lay out billions of dollars in investments hoping to reap multiples more. Unfortunately for the investors, they have to confront the possibility that this narrow model of engagement may have failed this time round. Given the religious underpinnings of the uprising, the incorporation of ISIL, and the fact that the projects are close to completion, the conflict is unlikely to resolve in a simple fashion. On the bright side though, this could serve as a wake-up call for governments and investors to pay closer attention to the rights, interests, and welfare of local populations when implementing projects. The era when local populations were clustered together with other fauna is long gone. Corporations have to be answerable to their host populations despite clearing with national governments. It does not spell natural justice when a 21st century industrial complex is built on and surrounded by stone-age deprivation.