Paper short abstract:

It is debated whether the insurgency in Mozambique is the fruit of a transnational threat or a local phenomenon that internationalised. Trying to move beyond this debate, I explore the local, regional & global dimensions of the insurgency to identify its specific form

Paper long abstract:

The insurgency that began in the province of Cabo Delgado in 2017 is a topic of much debate. Among others, authors disagree over the issue of its externality. The government and some authors have claimed the insurgency is the result of a transnational threat spreading into Mozambique, while others have argued that it is a local phenomenon that internationalised. Trying to move beyond this debate, this presentation explores the local, regional and global dimensions of the insurgency and tries to identify the specific forms of this articulation. It looks at the issue of origins and trajectory of the insurgency, its regional and international connections, and the ideological underpinnings of its public discourse. It makes the argument that it is a "glocal" phenomenon which developed in a border area and mixes local Mwani, regional Swahili and international jihadi ideas and tropes.