The catalyst for the protests was the announcement of a decision by the government to construct a gas pipeline from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam instead of a gas processing plant in Mtwara.
Chanzo cha maandamano hayo kilikuwa ni maamuzi yaliyofikiwa na serikali ya kujenga bomba la gesi kutoka Mtwara kwenda Dar Es Salaam badala ya kujenga kiwanda cha kuchakata gesi mkoani Mtwara.