Missao Para O Estudo Da Missionologia Africana / Influencias Politico-Sociais Do Islamismo Em Mocambique (RelatóRio Confidencial) Pelo Padre Albano Mendes Pedro Albano Mendes Pedro (1915 – 1989). / Centro De Estudos Politicos E Sociais Da Junta De Investigacoes Do Ultramar. Books

4° (29 x 20.5 cm): [1 f., title], 49 ff. typescript, bound in original green lithographed wrappers, handstamped ‘Confidencial’ to front cover and title and with the handstamp of the ‘Centro de Estudos Poli?ticos e Sociais do Ultramar’ to title (Very Good, overall internally clean and crisp with just a few slight mainly marginal stains, small tears at gutter of first and last leaves due to original binding adhesive and staples, wrappers with light sunning and slight wear to margins) MOZAMBIQUE – ISLAM / MIDDLE EAST-AFRICAN NEXUS / ORIGINS OF MILITANT ISLAMISM IN MOZAMBIQUE: Exceedingly rare – 1 of only 3 known examples – a ‘Confidential’ report prepared exclusively for senior figures of Portugal’s Estado Novo dictatorship that provides one of the earliest serious analyses of the origins and rise of radical, political Islam in northern Mozambique, a movement that would soon become a major factor in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-4) and which would eventually lead to the ongoing Islamist Insurgency in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province (2017-Present), which backed by international jihadist organizations, seeks to create a fundamentalist Islamic State in the region; authored by the Portuguese priest-scholar Albano Mendes Pedro, who had extensive experience serving as a missionary and student of Islam in northern Mozambique, the ‘Relatorio’ brilliantly reveals the nexus between the Middle East and East Africa, that through personal connections, and propaganda spread by political Islamist literature and radio broadcasts the traditionally moderate, locally oriented and rather apolitical Islam of northern Mozambique was transformed into an increasingly radicalized political weapon against non-Muslim authorities, so threatening to unravel the 350-year old Portuguese presence in Mozambique; importantly, Pedro’s work has a broader significance to understanding the rise of radical Islam that is currently underway in many places across Africa and Asia – an indispensable primary source, heavily cited in modern academic literature. - Since October 2017, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique’s most northwesterly province, has been rocked by a vicious insurgency mounted by Ansar al-Sunni, a radical Islamist group, motivated by jihadist extremism, which seeks to create an absolutist Islamic state in northern Mozambique. While developed locally, Andar al-Sunni has connections to the Islamic State and other international jihadist groups. Ansar has mounted a guerrilla war against the Mozambican Army posts, while seizing control of many villages an even some large towns, before often being evicted by the army, only to return later. The conflict has attracted international attention over fears that it might spread, with the Mozambican military being supported by Western army and intelligence assets. To be clear, many of the Muslims in the region do not support Ansar, which frequently targets uncooperative elements of their own communities. Yet, Islamists are today a deeply ingrained and seemingly permanent presence in northern Mozambique. However, this was not always preordained, as until the mid-20th century, northern Mozambique’s large and ancient Muslim population was known for its moderation and tolerance. The question thus remains: How did northern Mozambique give rise to a locally grown radical Islamist movement? The history of Islam in northern Mozambique is ancient and goes back as far as Sufi traders from Yemen who frequented its coasts from the 9th century. The Arab traders established permanent bases along the littoral and, over time, through intermarriage with the indigenous peoples (mainly of the Makua-Lomué, Ma-konde and Nguni-Suazi groups), many of the locals converted to Islam. This process continued, as most of the coast came under the influence of the Sultanate of Kilwa (957-1513), founded by a Persian dynasty. PLEASE SEE OUR WEB PAGE FOR A LONGER DESCRIPTION