In the latest attack by jihadists in northern Mozambique, at least four Christians were murdered. This marks the latest wave of attacks in an insurgency that began in 2017.
Although the insurgency started in Cabo Delgado province, it has also spread to the neighboring southern province of Nampula, where the most recent violence has occurred. The situation has been extremely serious in the district of Memba.
Since November 10, several settlements have been attacked and hundreds of houses have been set on fire. According to Bishop Alberto Vera of Nacala, there are also reports of people being kidnapped, including women and children, by the terrorists who claim allegiance to the Islamic State.
In a message sent to Aid to the Church in Need, he said that thousands of families are suffering and trying to escape the terrorists. In some places, most of the houses were burned and people have been killed.
In one village, four Christians were killed and one of them was beheaded. The bishop also noted that the insurgents had destroyed at least two chapels.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), approximately 128,000 people have fled the affected areas. OCHA adds that ongoing insecurity and the fear of further attacks continue to cause new displacements, while an outbreak of cholera is also impacting Memba.
Bishop Vera explained that “the Church is assisting as many people as possible. What we need most are food and basic necessities for the most vulnerable, especially women, children, and also our priests.”
Mozambique was listed as a country facing persecution in the 2025 Religious Freedom in the World Report, published in October. The ongoing crisis in Cabo Delgado remains the primary source of concern in the nation of just over 32 million people.