By Tiago J.B. Paqueliua
Abstract
Drawing on direct testimonies from civilians living at the heart of the conflict in Cabo Delgado, this chronicle exposes the staging of an allegedly religious war that serves economic and geostrategic interests. It deconstructs the official narrative surrounding the so-called “jihadist insurgency”, revealing the perverse transformation of terror into business, and the silent complicity of the international community.
Keywords
Cabo Delgado, jihadism, terrorism, war economy, Islam, natural resources, armed violence, international silence, retributive justice, Macomia, Mozambique.
Introduction
In recent years, Cabo Delgado has become the stage for one of the most brutal episodes of armed violence on the African continent. While the acts are officially attributed to an Islamist insurgency, those living under the crossfire cast serious doubt on that version. From the mouth of a resident of Macomia — one of the hardest-hit regions — emerges one of the most lucid and devastating critiques of the ongoing theatre of war.
Testimony from a Local Resident of Macomia
”It’s the absolute truth. Here, not only is lying the dominant language, but it has also become a source of enrichment for several individuals. And worse still, there are international institutions that unconditionally support these lies — and participate in the sharing of profits.”
This is the cry of someone who has no one left to turn to, aware that those who speak out — according to the interviewee — are mercilessly silenced. His outrage is directed not only at armed groups, but also at the indifference and complicity of state and international institutions.
Religion or Business?
When asked about the religious basis for the attacks — whether they are supported by the Qur’an or the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad — the citizen is unequivocal:
“No. This is business disguised as religion.”
And he adds, with doctrinal knowledge:
”Jihad is an inner struggle for faith — not a licence to kill. The Qur’an forbids the killing of innocents and even suicide. What kind of jihad is this that kills defenceless civilians? That is not Islam. I am Muslim, and the Qur’an is clear:
‘Whoever kills a person — unless for murder or spreading corruption in the land — it is as if he had slain all of humanity.’ (Surah 5:32)”
State Inertia and the Free Movement of Attackers
”It’s unbelievable how a national defence force takes two days to respond in an area where the population is being massacred. And these so-called terrorists roam about without fear, as if they own the territory.”
This observation reveals the suspicion that there is, at the very least, institutional tolerance of the armed groups’ presence. In genuine war scenarios, military responses are immediate. In Cabo Delgado, what is observed is a suspicious permissiveness — a theatrical conflict always followed by the cynical refrain: “The situation is under control; calm is returning.”
A “Business” in the Name of God
“This is all an outright business,” says the interviewee.
Behind these terse words lies a brutal reality: terror has become an economy. Armed groups, political elites, international agents, private security firms, fake NGOs and local intermediaries all feed off the instability. The suffering of the population has become an exploitable resource.
Direct Denunciation of the Cycle of Impunity as a Post-Conflict Political Solution
It is time to listen to the victims — not to schedule more luxury peace talks with their tormentors, only for them to be weekly amnestied, disarmed without transparency, demobilised for show, and reintegrated into the same political and economic status quo — all without any consultation of victims or application of retributive justice.
This model of “DDR” (Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration) — implemented without justice or truth — only encourages the continuous rise of armed groups. The message is clear: war crimes pay in Mozambique, a country that systematically ignores the Rome Statute, despite posturing as a prominent actor in the UN Security Council.
Conclusion
The war in Cabo Delgado is not holy. It is dirty, lucrative, and highly convenient for certain sectors. This chronicle is a call for the international press, multilateral bodies, and citizens of the world to listen to Macomia — not as a statistic, but as a moral wake-up call.
It is time to question the profits from violence, institutional silence, and the moral anaesthesia that allows yet another tragedy to serve the same old interests.
Glossary
Jihad: In classical Islam, it means a spiritual or physical struggle for faith. It does not imply terrorism.
Surah 5:32: Qur’anic verse condemning unjustified violence against innocents.
DDR: A political-military process of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration, often criticised for its superficiality.
Macomia: A district in the province of Cabo Delgado, one of the most violently affected by the armed conflict.
Rome Statute: The treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC), responsible for prosecuting war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.
Contextual References
1. UNHCR (2025). Statement on forced displacement in Cabo Delgado.
2. Amnesty International (2023–2024). Reports on abuses committed by all parties involved.
3. Human Rights Watch Report (2022). “What I Saw Is Death”: War Crimes in Mozambique’s Forgotten War.
4. The Holy Qur’an. Translation and contextual interpretation of Surah 5:32.
