The border region between Tanzania and Mozambique, demarcated by the Rovuma River, has been embroiled in conflict since 2017, with significant implications for cross-border dynamics and gender relations. The conflict, primarily centred on Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, is driven by a complex interplay of factors, including socio-economic marginalisation, religious extremism, and the presence of the al-Shabaab insurgency.
This paper investigates the complex interplay between the ongoing conflict in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province and its impact on cross-border dynamics with Tanzania, with a particular focus on the gendered dimensions of these dynamics. The central thesis of this study posits that the conflict has exacerbated pre-existing cross-border tensions, leading to a disruption of traditional livelihoods and a transformation of gender roles. The conflict’s impact is not uniform but is shaped by gendered experiences of socio-economic participation, with women facing heightened vulnerabilities and challenges.