NEXT AFRICA: REVIVING A GAS BONANZA

Mozambique’s ruling party made a surprise choice for its next leader and presidential candidate as the country redoubles efforts to revive one of Africa’s biggest-ever investments and transform the economy. By Bloomberg

Daniel Chapo, presidential candidat

The Liberation Front of Mozambique, which is known by its Portuguese acronym Frelimo and has held power since 1975, this weekend selected Daniel Chapo as its flagbearer for October elections — which it’s almost certain to win.

The governor of the coastal Inhambane province, Chapo is a lawyer and former radio presenter. Despite having never served in the national cabinet, he won the party’s nomination after President Filipe Nyusi failed to impose Roque Silva, Frelimo’s secretary general, as his successor.

Chapo will have his work cut out for him.

One of the world’s poorest countries, Mozambique is trying to convince TotalEnergies to resume a $20 billion natural gas export project. Construction was halted in 2021 after an assault by Islamic State-linked insurgents left hundreds dead in the town closest to the site in the northern Cabo Delgado province.

While TotalEnergies has recently given encouraging signals as the militants have been pushed back with the assistance of troops from Rwanda and Mozambique’s neighbors, intermittent attacks have persisted.

And a decision by French prosecutors to seek more information about allegations of involuntary manslaughter relating to claims that the company didn’t do enough to protect its subcontractors may also give the project’s backers pause. The oil giant denies any wrongdoing.

As recently as last week, Nyusi expressed impatience about the delays in tapping what are some of the world’s richest gas reserves.

It will fall to Chapo to address the doubts about whether Mozambique is a safe place to do business.