The Effectiveness of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM)

Written by

Thomas Mandrup

Associate Professor, Royal Danish Defence College & Stellenbsoch University

Craig Moffat

Former employee

Andrew E. Yaw Tchie

Senior Research Fellow

Gwinyayi A. Dzinesa

Senior Research Fellow, University of Johannesburg

Rui Saraiva

Specially Appointed Professor, School of International Liberal Arts, Miyazaki International University

Ingvild Brox Brodtkorb

Research Fellow

Ed.

Summary:

The report assesses the effectiveness of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), deployed in 2021 to counter the ASWJ insurgency in Cabo Delgado. SAMIM helped reduce insurgent capacity and restore some state presence, but it struggled with mismatched resources, limited host-nation cooperation, and parallel Rwandan operations. The mission never achieved key tasks such as sustained territorial stabilisation, air and maritime support, or long-term capacity-building of Mozambican forces. Political constraints and operational gaps ultimately led to its withdrawal in mid-2024, despite persistent insecurity.

Published year: 2025
Publisher: Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
Page count: 58
Language: English