StrategyPage discusses the ISIS like Islamic terrorism in Mozambique, that attacked an oil facility.
several notes: They came from the outside via Tanzania, so are not locals.
The oil facility is bringing in money, but the problem is that they brought in outside help, since such facilities require skilled workers, and locals can't do the job. So there is a resentment against them.
There are some jobs for locals, but of course they went to the friends and relatives of the local big shots. So as in Nigeria, corruption means local resentment, which facilitates terrorism.
The local anger at the new natural resource bonanza is a common phenomenon in Africa, where most nations with oil or natural gas or any valuable exportable raw material see most of the export income stolen by corrupt politicians. This is the rule, not the exception in Africa. Big promises were made to nearby inhabitants, but governments crippled by corruption fail to deliver the promised benefits. Add the fact that Mozambique’s minority Moslem population is concentrated in the north, to provide the Islamic terrorists with recruits and some local support and you have potential problem. This can create a classic long-term problem sustained by fanatic Islamic terrorists.
this time it's the muslim terrorist vs the French and local corrupt officials etc.
read the whole article, which relates the sad history of Mozambique and it's many wars... and the Russian/communist history for good or evil is mentioned.
One hopes Biden will not decide to get involved, since this should be Europe's sphere of influence.
And not just Europe:
the Chinese are aware that they could face similar attacks in countries where they have similar facilities... they even have their own Rambo type propaganda film that ends with the promise that China will defend their people no matter what. Heh. in the film he rescues all those Chinese working in a local factory... you mean no locals working/ Well never mind. But you see the potential problem. Neocolonialism: only skilled workers can develop resources, but locals are not skilled, and the money goes to the corrupt local politicians, a good way to get a war started.
And the reason Angola had so many Cuban soldiers in the olden days was to let the government, run by a minority tribe, get all that lovely loot. And then there is Nigeria....sigh.
