- Since the emergence of violent extremists in Cabo Delgado in October 2017, the Government of Mozambique has adopted various ways of dealing with the phenomenon. In the first months, the government played down the attacks, labeling them as mere acts of banditry.
Subsequently, the authorities invested in the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), especially in the special units – Rapid Intervention Unit and Special Operations Group, to respond to the onslaught of violent extremists. The presence of personnel from the Armed Forces for the Defense of Mozambique (FADM), responsible for defending sovereignty and territorial integrity, was residual, in addition to the fact that operational command was in the hands of the PRM.