Mozambique: Can Mozambique's New Counter-Terrorism Centre Deliver?

What the report says

Mozambique’s creation of a National Centre for the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism and Violent Extremism is being presented as a major step toward improving coordination against the insurgency in the north, according to an Institute for Security Studies analysis published by AllAfrica on 18 August 2026. The centre was established in November 2025 after years of attacks in Cabo Delgado and nearby areas, where Islamic State-linked militants have exploited local grievances, unemployment, inequality, corruption and exclusion from resource benefits.

The article says the new body was designed to fill a long-standing gap: fragmented decision-making among police, the military and foreign partners had weakened earlier efforts. It now includes research, data analysis, operational coordination and risk assessment functions, with staff drawn from several security and justice institutions. The centre is headed by Brigadier-General Aníbal Manuel Fernando, reflecting the continued central role of the military in counter-terrorism policy.

The analysis argues that the centre’s success will depend on whether it can move beyond a security-only approach. It notes that key challenges include the lack of a presence outside Maputo, limited funding and technology, and the risk that seconded staff will continue to act for their parent agencies rather than as a unified team. It also says the centre is not yet structured to involve communities, civil society or private actors in addressing root causes.

The broader significance, the piece suggests, is that Mozambique is trying to shift from scattered military operations toward a more coordinated national strategy. But turning that into results will require stronger political backing, broader civilian involvement and more resources.