Maputo, 24 Aug (AIM) – The Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), an independent and non-profit foundation based in Geneva, calls for integrated response to violent extremism in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.
Since 2027, Islamist terrorists have been carrying out extreme violence against Cabo Delgado districts. Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) points out that the conflict has caused more than 6,600 deaths across over 2,400 violent events since its beginning, with the vast majority attributed to terrorists linked to the Islamic State.
According to GCERF, the integrated response to violent extremism in Mozambique must be grounded in prevention, social inclusion, economic opportunities, and the strengthening of community resilience.
The organization presented this position at a meeting bringing together the MASC Foundation, the Defense and Security Working Group of the Inclusive National Dialogue, and the Integrated Development Agency of the North (ADIN).
The meeting called for a shift in approach regarding the fight against violent extremism, placing prevention and community resilience at the heart of national strategies. Participants agreed that while a military response is necessary for security, it is insufficient to address the social, economic, and ideological root causes that can fuel radicalization.
Factors identified included unemployment, a lack of opportunities, social inequalities, discrimination, corruption, marginalization, and a lack of prospects for the future, conditions that, when combined, can increase the vulnerability of individuals and communities to radicalization.
Manuel Sambo, GCERF representative, shared experiences regarding the prevention of violent extremism and highlighted the role of civil society organizations in strengthening social cohesion and the capacity of communities to cope with situations of vulnerability.
However, he warned that violent extremism is a multidimensional phenomenon and cannot be explained solely by poverty. “Prevention efforts must combine security, social, and community dimensions, since military operations alone cannot address the root causes of radicalization. The use of military force alone cannot resolve what is happening in people’s minds”, he said.
This message positions community-based prevention as a strategic component to complement security measures, particularly in areas where factors of social and economic vulnerability persist.
The approach advocated by GCERF envisions three levels of intervention. Primary prevention should focus on vulnerable individuals and communities; secondary prevention should address situations where signs of radicalization or recruitment are already present; and tertiary prevention should focus on the reintegration of radicalized individuals.
Decentralization was also highlighted as crucial for bringing responses closer to communities and allowing national strategies to be adapted to diverse local realities.
The meeting also examined the link between natural resources and the financing of violence, as well as the conceptual distinctions between terrorism, insurgency, and violent extremism.
Another sensitive issue addressed was the reintegration of individuals previously involved with armed groups. In this regard, participants emphasized the need for psychological support, screening, and categorization of those involved, as well as greater involvement from the communities themselves.
PC/Am/
