‘Killing Is Not Part of Our Religion’
The ongoing conflict in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province is described as an inter-Muslim struggle rooted in radicalization rather than a simple religious war. Local leaders emphasize that the jihadist insurgency, linked to the Islamic State, contradicts the peaceful history of Islam in the region.
Why it matters
Understanding the internal dynamics of regional conflicts is crucial for international policy and humanitarian efforts in East Africa.
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The ongoing conflict in the northern Mozambique province of Cabo Delgado is not only between Muslims and Christians. It is also an inter-Muslim conflict, with deep roots in marginalization and radicalization.
A displaced Muslim sheikh, Ibrahim Mustafa, says Muslims and Christians have lived peacefully together in Mozambique for over 500 years. Mustafa himself fled from Mocímboa da Praia, Cabo Delgado, and now lives on Kilwa Island, Tanzania.
He says Islam arrived in Mozambique in the seventh century, brought by Arabs from the Middle East. Christianity came centuries later with the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. He arrived on the island of Mozambique ( Ilha de Moçambique in Portuguese) on March 2, 1498, on his way to India.
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