Following its independence in 1975, Mozambique has struggled with security issues, which is evident in the recent upsurge of violent events. The insurgency began in 2017. Since then, more than 2,500 people have been killed, a large portion of which are children. The militants involved are believed to be from the Muslim majority region of Cabo Delgado. They claim to be part of the Islamic State (IS) group, going by the names of Ansar al-Sunnah or Al-Shabaab. Despite identifying themselves as members of IS, it remains unclear whether there is any relationship with or control by the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.

The motive behind the gruesome crimes is related to socio-economic reasons, particularly dissatisfaction by the Mozambican youth with the government, foreign investors, and the disproportionate allocation of wealth in the country. Mozambique has one of the world’s largest reserves of key metallic sources, such as iron-ore and ruby. It also has significant natural gas resources and is a leading nation in refining imported crude oil, attracting foreign investors.