Page 7 - DMEA Week 13 2021

DMEA COMMENTARY DMEA

not abate. For another, the conflict has the poten- Peninsula site and stepping up the pace of con-
tial to wreak a certain amount of havoc in the struction, Total has evacuated more staff mem-
region. Since ASWJ functions as the local arm bers and scaled back operations once again.
of the terrorist group known as Islamic State Instead of remaining secure within the perim-
(Daesh), its clash with FADM has wider geopo- eter marked out by Mozambique’s government,
litical implications. it has seen ASWJ ambush hotels in Palma where
It could also spur diplomatic tensions some of its employees were taking shelter. Addi-
between Mozambique and neighbouring states, tionally, rather than working to keep itself out of
some of which have already expressed concern the fray, it has heard Mozambican officials such
about the possibility that refugees from Cabo as Omar Saranga, a spokesman for the Ministry
Delgado may cross into their territory. of Defence, inform the public that the Islamists
are deliberately and specifically targeting gas
Another ramp-down projects.
These considerations are serious enough on
their own. But they look even more serious in Lessons to be learned
light of the large-scale investments contemplated Mozambique’s government is seeking help
by Mozambique LNG and the other consortia – from the international community, in that it has
and in light of the fact that ASWJ is now openly moved beyond working with foreign security
targeting project sites. contractors with unsavoury reputations such as
In recent months, the Islamist group’s troops South Africa’s Dyck Advisory Group (DAG). It
have been moving closer and closer to the com- has accepted Portugal’s offer of military training
plex that Mozambique LNG is building on the and has brought US military advisors and spe-
Afungi Peninsula. Last August, they forced Total cial forces into the country for counter-terrorism
to stop using the port of Mocimboa da Praia as training.
its main delivery point for equipment needed Even so, ASWJ has seen that attacks on gas
to build the LNG plant. Last November and installations get results. They may not lead
December, they staged a series of attacks that to clear territorial gains, but they do attract a
led the French company to ramp down opera- great deal of attention (and they may also be
tions and evacuate thousands of workers from its encouraging Islamic State loyalists to travel to
onshore construction site in January. Mozambique). Additionally, they bring FADM
These events have thus far not deterred Total. troops to Cabo Delgado, thereby exacerbating
The French major has remained committed to long-standing tensions between the province
resuming work and has been in negotiations and the central government while creating even
with Mozambican authorities on the establish- more disorder.
ment of a security perimeter in the area. These As such, ASWJ may very well step up attacks
talks appear to have been fruitful, and Total was on Mozambique LNG facilities in the near
indicating before March 24 that it intended to term. Officials in Maputo will therefore have to
resume work before the end of the month. demonstrate their commitment to turning the
However, these hopes have now been dashed. tide in order to reassure Total – and the other
Rather than returning workers to the Afungi investors that hope to learn from its example.™

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