Mozambique is a country in south-east Africa ruled by a single political party for decades. Its northern province of Cabo Delgado has been beset by a jihadist insurgency linked to Islamic State. In 2021 jihadists overran the town of Palma, killing at least 800 people, forcing TotalEnergies to pause work on a $20bn gas-liquefaction project nearby. The jihadists' numbers have since dwindled to perhaps 300-400 men. The area is patrolled by Rwandan soldiers, invited by the government and funded by the European Union.
TotalEnergies owns a 26.5% stake in the gas development, one of the largest foreign investments ever made on the continent. The IMF thinks annual growth could soar to 10% by the end of the decade when the project comes on stream.
In 2024 protests about electoral malpractice turned into a revolt against the ruling elite. Mobs burned police stations, raided factories and invaded mines. Security forces shot dead hundreds of protesters.
You won't skid if you stay in a rut.