There is serious concern after militants linked to ISIS, seized a heavily-defended port in Mozambique after days of fighting.

According to local media reports, government forces that were in the far southern town of Mocimboa da Praia fled, many by boat after fighters stormed the port.

The town is near the site of natural gas projects worth 60-billion American dollars.

The Human Sciences Research Council’s Africa Institute of South Africa is to host a webinar to address the issue of violent extremism in Mozambique later today.

Jasmine Opperman, analyst at the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project and one of the panelist for this webinar says that this insurgency is more local fighters disgruntled with the government but the longer it lingers around, ISIS will grab onto the opportunity.

She says its very highly unlikely for them to invade South Africa.