# Close Protection in Maputo, Mozambique Canonical page: https://closeprotectionhire.com/cities/maputo/ Close protection and executive security in Maputo, Mozambique. Security drivers, bodyguard hire, and risk assessment for southern Africa's emerging energy and extractives hub. ## Threats - **Terrorism: Northern Mozambique**: An Islamist insurgency has been active in Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique since 2017. Attacks have included massacres, beheadings, displacement of over 1 million people, and attacks on energy infrastructure. The insurgency is geographically distant from Maputo (1,800km south) but creates spillover risk through internal displacement and energy sector security implications. FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Cabo Delgado. Source: FCDO Mozambique travel advice; ACLED conflict data. - **Crime: Armed Robbery and Carjacking**: Armed robbery and carjacking are documented in Maputo. Risk is higher in peripheral residential areas and on routes between the airport and the Baixa (downtown) area. Vehicle smash-and-grab at traffic lights occurs. Pre-booked vetted transport is the minimum standard for airport transfers and business movement. - **Petty Crime**: Pickpocketing, bag snatching, and opportunistic theft occur in the Baixa area, at the Municipal Market, and in densely populated commercial zones. Solo walking in less-familiar areas carries elevated risk. - **Political Instability**: Mozambique experienced significant post-election unrest in late 2024 following disputed election results. Demonstrations and civil disturbances caused fatalities and disrupted movement in Maputo. The political situation remains sensitive. Monitor conditions before and during visits. ## Regulations - **Licensing**: Decree 9/2007 of 30 April gives the Ministry of Interior responsibility for licensing and supervising private security companies in Mozambique, according to the Centro para Democracia e Direitos Humanos (December 2025), which also reports that the capacity to monitor the sector remains limited. Ask any provider for its Ministry of Interior licence before engagement. The decree text itself could not be read on 7 October 2026. - **Firearms**: Whether private security staff in Mozambique may carry firearms, and under which authorisation, could not be confirmed against a primary source on 7 October 2026. Any armed element, and the permit behind each weapon, must be confirmed in writing before an assignment starts. - **Foreign operators**: The rules for foreign security companies and foreign protection officers in Mozambique could not be confirmed against a primary source on 7 October 2026. Work through a Mozambican provider that can show its Ministry of Interior licence, and take local legal advice before a foreign team carries out protective duties. Sources, checked 2026-10-07: - [Centro para Democracia e Direitos Humanos (CDD), Papel do Governo na supervisao da seguranca privada, 18 December 2025](https://cddmoz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Papel-do-Governo-na-supervisao-da-seguranca-privada-e-na-regulacao-das-relacoes-empresa-comunidade.pdf) ## Zones Lower-risk areas: - Polana district: Upmarket residential and hotel area. Primary zone for international business accommodation. Lower crime profile within Maputo. - Sommerschield: Embassy and residential area adjacent to Polana. Good security infrastructure. - Central Maputo (Baixa, business hours): City centre is manageable for business purposes during daylight hours with awareness. Elevated-risk areas: - Baixa after dark: Central commercial area carries elevated robbery risk at night. - Airport road and approaches: Carjacking and robbery documented on routes from Maputo International Airport. - Peripheral residential areas: Suburban zones with less security infrastructure and higher crime rates. ## Emergency contacts - Police: 119 - Ambulance: 117 - SOS Clinica (private): +258 21 493 924 - South African High Commission Maputo: +258 21 490 059 ## Warnings - Cabo Delgado insurgency: Do not travel to northern Mozambique without specialist security. FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Cabo Delgado. This advisory applies to the gas field areas where energy sector business is concentrated. Specialist security provision for northern Mozambique operations is a non-negotiable requirement. - Post-election political instability (2024) has left a legacy of political tension. Monitor conditions. Demonstrations can occur with limited warning and have in the past turned violent. - Medical facilities in Maputo are very limited. SOS Clinica provides private care at a basic level. For any serious medical condition, evacuation to Johannesburg is the appropriate response. Medical evacuation insurance is mandatory. - The Maputo to Johannesburg corridor is operationally important for medical evacuation and contingency planning. Ensure this option is pre-planned and insured before arrival. Maputo is the capital and largest city of Mozambique and the commercial gateway to one of southern Africa's most significant emerging economies. The discovery and development of massive natural gas reserves in the Rovuma Basin has made Mozambique a destination of genuine strategic importance for the international energy sector, with Maputo serving as the corporate and logistics hub for operations that are geographically remote from the capital. ## The energy sector context The Rovuma Basin LNG projects have attracted Total Energies, Eni, ExxonMobil, and a consortium of international partners. The gas reserves are among the largest discovered in Africa. The corporate, legal, and financial infrastructure supporting these projects is concentrated in Maputo. This makes the city a destination for international business visitors in energy, law, finance, and project management despite the operational complexity of the environment. ## The security context Maputo's security challenges are layered. The city itself has a manageable crime profile for visitors operating in the Polana zone with professional transport. The complication is the Cabo Delgado insurgency in the north. The insurgency directly halted the Total Energies LNG project in 2021 and requires specialist security for anyone working near the gas field areas. The 2024 post-election unrest added a political instability dimension to what was already a complex operating environment. The legacy of that unrest (a more contested political environment, periodic demonstrations) is part of the current operating picture. ## Southern Africa medical evacuation planning Maputo's medical facilities are inadequate for serious cases. The Johannesburg evacuation corridor is the standard contingency. This planning element must be in place before arrival. *Sources: FCDO Mozambique travel advice. US State Department Level 2 advisory Mozambique (Level 4 for Cabo Delgado). ACLED conflict data Cabo Delgado.* For comparable operating environments in our network, see our [Johannesburg city briefing](/cities/johannesburg/) and [Lusaka city briefing](/cities/lusaka/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Why is Maputo relevant for business travel? Mozambique is the site of one of the largest liquefied natural gas developments in the world. The Rovuma Basin LNG projects (Total Energies, Eni, and partners) have made Mozambique a significant destination for international energy sector business. Maputo is the logistical and corporate hub for these operations, even though the gas fields are in the north. Energy, legal, financial, and logistics sector business visitors travel to Maputo for this reason. ### Is it safe to travel to northern Mozambique for the gas projects? Northern Mozambique, specifically Cabo Delgado province, has been the site of an active Islamist insurgency since 2017. The insurgency directly targeted and temporarily halted the Total Energies LNG project in 2021. FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Cabo Delgado. Any travel to the gas field areas requires specialist security assessment and is not a standard corporate visit environment. Specialist security provision with current ground intelligence is mandatory. ### What is the political situation in Mozambique? Mozambique's October 2024 elections produced disputed results that triggered significant civil unrest, with protests, fatalities, and disruption to movement in Maputo and other cities. The political situation stabilised but remains sensitive. FRELIMO, which has governed since independence, remains in power but faces a more contested political environment than previously. Monitor conditions around any visit. ### What are the medical facilities in Maputo? Private medical facilities in Maputo are very limited by regional standards. SOS Clinica (linked to the international SOS network) provides the best available private care. For any serious medical condition, surgical procedure, or trauma, evacuation to Johannesburg is the standard response. Medical evacuation insurance covering evacuation to South Africa is a non-negotiable requirement for Mozambique visits. ### Do I need close protection in Maputo? For energy sector executives and senior principals, close protection is appropriate. For standard corporate visits with vetted transport and accommodation in the Polana zone, a security driver and basic zone awareness address most risks. The environment is more demanding than Johannesburg or Nairobi and warrants more preparation than a first-time visitor might expect from a country of this size.