Natural resource exploitation projects have contributed to social inequalities and inequalities of treatment between community members in Cabo Delgado province in recent years. This is the conclusion of the Institute for Economic and Social Development (IDES), which carried out a study in the northernmost province of Mozambique.

Entitled "The Role of the Government and the Extractive Industry in the Development of Cabo Delgado", the conclusions of the study, according to the executive director of the civil society organization, Fidel Tereciano, are clear and the communities where the resources are exploited suffer from various problems due to the installation of these projects.

"Banditry has increased, crime has increased, the lack of respect in the community has increased, the high levels of social confrontation have increased," emphasized Fidel Tereciano, quoting the same report, adding that these are problems that the government authorities in Cabo Delgado province are aware of.

Quoted by RFI, the Secretary of State, Antonio Supeia, recalls that resources are exhaustible and therefore their exploitation must be regulated. That's why "our research institutions are called upon to produce knowledge on how to guarantee sustainable exploitation of the extractive industry that is reflected in the quality of life of our populations and respect for human rights".

The results of the study, which focused mainly on the districts of Balama, Ancuabe and Pemba, were presented in the city of Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado province.