Drowning in Crises: Mozambique's Struggle against Violence, Hunger, and Environmental Catastrophe - and Europe's Summer Vacation Funding
In Mozambique: Strife, hunger, and environmental disaster - funds from Europe channeled towards armed forces and gas industries.
By Simone Schlindwein, Kampala
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Mozambique. Ah, the poker-face of Africa. In magazines, it's hailed as a pristine diving paradise, with miles of white, undisturbed beaches, vibrant coral reefs. But right now, it's down on its luck. The third worst-hit country on the planet for displacement crises, behind only Cameroon and Ethiopia. Yet, here comes the European big-shots with billions to invest in a liquified natural gas plant - none of it trickling down to the locals.
In the sweltering heart of Africa, Mozambique, home to around 33 million, is battling a perfect storm of misfortunes. The United Nations says nearly 5 million people are grappling with starvation. But as the world nods indifferently, the scales continue tipping toward catastrophe.
The Norwegian Refugee Council's (NRC) top cheese, Jan Egeland, has just touched down. His message? "Stepping over the edge, and the world won't even bat an eyelash." The population of Mozambique is teetering on the brink of a precipice, Egeland warns, bracing for unspeakable suffering if the world keeps turning a blind eye.
Cyclones, Drought, and Disintegration
Three devastating cyclones have ravaged the northern coast in recent months, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Homes, roads, clinics, and schools are wiped off the map. No surprise here, since the World Food Programme (WFP) reports that at least 1.4 million people have been impacted. With farmland submerged beneath floodwaters, people have lost not only their homes but their livelihood as well. Cyclones in the Indian Ocean have grown stronger and more intense as a result of climate change, leading to swelling extremes. During the dry season, however, a seemingly endless drought dries out the earth.
Headless and Helpless
Since 2017, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique's poorest corner, has been a battleground for the brutal conflict between the Muslim militia Ansar al-Sunna and the government. This band of radicalized fighters is known for mutilations, beheadings, and widespread terror. The dilapidated and underfunded Mozambican army can't seem to get a handle on them. In 2019 to 2023, the Wagner Group, a Russia-based paramilitary outfit, sent around 200 mercenaries to help that resulted in heavy losses, with at least ten Wagner fighters beheaded. The Wagner Group finally pulled out in 2023, leaving the African Peace Mission to pick up the pieces.
The peace mission, consisting of over 2,000 soldiers from eight neighboring countries, was financed in part by the European Union, totaling roughly 20 million euros. A convenient arrangement, as the contested province is brimming with one of Africa's largest natural gas reserves. The French oil company Total plans to invest an astounding $20 billion in a liquified natural gas plant. However, construction has been repeatedly delayed, most recently to 2029, due to security concerns. Meanwhile, Rwandan companies have bagged juicy contracts to supply infrastructure and security.
Aid, Aid, Who's Got the Aid?
The European Union's involvement in the military mission has been under fire numerous times. UN investigations revealed that Rwanda had covertly sent thousands of troops to support rebels in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, yet the EU continued with military aid, renewing it at the end of 2024. The carpet-baggers seem pleased because they don't have to send their own troops to safeguard Total's investments - after all, those liquified natural gas plants are indispensable for the energy transition.
While the value of Total's investment is jaw-dropping, the same can't be said for aid for the starving population. The UN's financial plan to help the affected population and displaced individuals with around $400 million was only funded at around 40 percent in 2024. This year looks even grimmer, with over half of the funds provided by the US aid agency USAID, which was recently shut down under the Trump administration. The EU's aid agency ECHO has only funded a measly 8%, nowhere near the aid that the French oil company Total is prepared to invest. "I urge governments and the private sector to mobilize funds urgently," Egeland stresses, slamming governments and corporations for exploiting Mozambique's resources while leaving the starving population out in the cold.
Politics Guerrilla Warfare in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Source: ntv.de
- Mozambique
- Drought
- Energy Crisis
- Cyclones/Climate Change
- Terrorism
- Conflict
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
The crisis in Mozambique is spiraling out of control. The country faces multiple challenges, including violent conflict, extreme weather events, agricultural destruction, and inadequate humanitarian aid. Here's a snapshot of the present situation, funding difficulties, and foreign investment:
Current Problems
- Displacement: Currently, around 1.3 million people are displaced due to armed conflict, cyclones, and drought. continued displacement is occurring, with tens of thousands being forced to abandon their homes multiple times[4].
- Places of Conflict: The conflict is escalating in Cabo Delgado Province and is now impacting new areas such as Ancuabe and Montepuez[4].
- Child Safety: The situation is particularly precarious for children, with increasing reports of violence and kidnappings in conflict-ridden regions like Cabo Delgado[3].
Funding Gap
- Resource Shortage: The humanitarian response in Mozambique is wrestling with a critical funding deficit. The UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations are struggling to deliver the essential aid due to limited resources[4].
- UNICEF Funds: UNICEF has launched an appeal for $64 million for 2025, but funding progress varies across sectors, with notable shortages in primary healthcare and education[5].
- Needs of the People: The population requires assistance from around 4.8 million individuals, with 3.4 million children in need of support[5].
International Intervention
- UN Organizations: The United Nations, UNHCR, UNICEF, and other UN agencies are actively working to offer humanitarian aid. Nevertheless, the funding constraints are thwarting their capacity to respond promptly and effectively[4][5].
- Global Response: The international community is being called upon to boost funding and lend a hand to address the plight, which is affecting both Mozambique and the wider region[4].
- Obstacles: International participation is complicated by the complexity of the conflict and the requirement for sustained funding to address both urgency humanitarian needs and long-term development goals[2][4].
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft budget for addressing the urgent humanitarian needs in Mozambique, where science shows climate change has precipitated cyclones and drought, causing environmental catastrophe.
- In the midst of this environmental-science fueled crisis in Mozambique, politics have come into play as the European Union has funded a military peace mission, while general-news outlets report on ongoing guerrilla warfare in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- As the United Nations appeals for more funds to provide necessary aid to the Mozambican populace affected by displacement, it's important to consider the investment being made in climate-change related projects, such as the liquified natural gas plant in Mozambique, which could potentially alleviate the energy crisis facing the country.
