By Idris Abubakar
This article explores current peace and security challenges facing Lusophone African countries-Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe. While these nations share a common linguistic and colonial heritage, they exhibit diverse security profiles ranging from insurgency and terrorism threats to political instability and maritime insecurity. The report details emerging trends, key challenges, implications for regional and continental stability, and presents targeted policy recommendations for national governments, regional bodies, and international partners.
Lusophone African countries are bound by the Portuguese language and historical legacies of colonialism, but their current security environments differ significantly. Their geopolitical positions across the Gulf of Guinea, the Indian Ocean, and Central Africa have shaped their strategic relevance. While countries like Cape Verde have achieved a degree of political and institutional stability, others like Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau continue to grapple with insecurity, insurgency, and governance fragility (Africa Center for Strategic Studies, 2018).
This article provides a country-by-country analysis of peace and security issues, focusing on internal conflict, terrorism, organized crime, political instability, and international defense partnerships. It also contextualizes these issues within broader continental peace and security frameworks such as the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) (Peaceau.org, n.d.).
Trends and DevelopmentsAngola: Peace has largely prevailed since the end of its long civil war in 2002, and the country has since enjoyed relative stability. However, recent developments indicate potential threats to national security. In early 2025, security forces intercepted and dismantled a suspected terrorist cell allegedly planning coordinated attacks on government infrastructure in Luanda. Though the group’s ideological leanings and affiliations remain under investigation, the incident has raised concerns over the potential for extremist infiltration and radicalization, especially among disenfranchised youth in economically marginalized areas (ReliefWeb, 2025). Angola also continues to play an influential diplomatic role in regional peace processes, especially through its involvement in mediating conflicts such as the tensions in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Crisis Group, 2025). While Angola’s military remains one of the most powerful in Central Africa, its internal security sector still requires reforms to improve transparency and civil-military relations (NDU Press, 2017).
Mozambique: The country continues to struggle with the ongoing insurgency in its northern province of Cabo Delgado, where Islamist militants affiliated with ISIS have terrorized communities since 2017 (Genocide Watch, 2024). Despite some military gains, the security situation remains volatile, with sporadic attacks against civilians and security forces continuing in rural districts. The intervention of Rwandan forces and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), backed by the European Union and the United States, has helped regain some territories (Genocide Watch, 2024). Nonetheless, the underlying drivers of the conflict-such as socioeconomic exclusion, youth unemployment, religious marginalization, and poor governance-remain largely unaddressed. The humanitarian situation is also dire, with hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in camps under precarious conditions (Genocide Watch, 2024).
Guinea-Bissau: The political environment remains deeply unstable, characterized by frequent power struggles between the presidency, military, and other political actors. The country has experienced several coup attempts and extra-constitutional actions in the past decade, most recently in 2022, when an armed assault on government buildings resulted in multiple deaths (The Conversation, 2025). While calm has returned, the state remains fragile, with civilian control over the armed forces tenuous at best. Guinea-Bissau is also notorious for its role as a transit point for cocaine trafficking from Latin America to Europe, facilitated by weak institutions, corruption, and a lack of effective border controls. The entrenchment of narco-trafficking networks has contributed to the erosion of state legitimacy and hinders efforts at security sector reform (The Conversation, 2025).
Cape Verde: The nation stands out among Lusophone countries as a model of democratic governance and relative security. Its government has invested significantly in maritime security infrastructure, taking advantage of its strategic location in the Atlantic to position itself as a key player in West African security cooperation. Although the country does not face significant internal or external threats, it remains vulnerable to transnational criminal activities such as smuggling, human trafficking, and money laundering. The government has taken proactive measures, including strengthening financial regulation and engaging with international partners, to combat these threats. Cape Verde also participates actively in counterterrorism dialogues at the regional and international levels (Medafrica Times, 2025).
São Tomé and Príncipe: Is a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, that has remained politically stable in recent years, though it faces structural vulnerabilities common to small island developing states. Its limited economic base, reliance on foreign aid, and small security apparatus render it vulnerable to external shocks and emerging threats. Although there are no active conflicts, the country has been flagged by international financial oversight bodies, due to weak controls over terrorism financing and money laundering (Afrca Center for Strategic Studies, 2018). Furthermore, its extensive maritime territory places it at risk of illegal fishing, piracy, and other maritime crimes, which could impact its national revenue and food security (Africa Center for Strategic Studies, 2018).
Key Challenges
-Terrorism and Radicalization: The spread of extremist ideologies, especially in Mozambique and Angola, poses a risk to regional stability.Political Instability and -Governance Deficits: Guinea-Bissau continues to experience governance fragility, while Angola’s and Mozambique’s security institutions are facing pressure from both internal and external threats.
-Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking: Guinea-Bissau is a key transit hub for narcotics, with repercussions for political and economic stability.
-Maritime Insecurity: Cape Verde and São Tomé face risks from piracy, illegal fishing, and smuggling due to their strategic maritime locations.
-Weak Institutional Capacity: Limited resources, fragile judicial systems, and lack of oversight impede effective security governance.
Implications
– Regional Spillover Effects: Instability in one Lusophone country, especially Angola or Mozambique, could have cross-border implications in Southern and Central Africa.
-Erosion of State Authority: Repeated coups and corruption erode public trust and create fertile ground for extremist recruitment and organized crime.
-Delayed Development: Security challenges are stalling infrastructure projects, particularly in Mozambique, and diverting resources from development to defense.
-Increased External Military Footprint: Reliance on foreign troops (e.g., Rwanda in Mozambique) may create dependency, complicate sovereignty, and raise human rights concerns.
Policy Recommendations/conclusion
-Strengthen intelligence and counter-radicalization capabilities.
-Invest in civil-military relations and democratic oversight of security institutions.
-Implement comprehensive anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing frameworks.
-Improve border and maritime security through surveillance technologies and international cooperation.
-Foster Lusophone cooperation within regional security architectures.
-Deploy early warning systems and facilitate rapid response mechanisms.
-Support electoral integrity and constitutional stability to curb coups and unconstitutional transitions.
-Expand support for peacebuilding, DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration), and community-based security programs.
-Enhance technical assistance for financial intelligence units and judicial systems.
-Coordinate efforts to build local resilience against radicalization and organized crime.
