Reports from northern Mozambique indicate that at least 120 children have been abducted by insurgent forces in recent days. This information comes to us from Human Rights Watch, a respected international organization monitoring the situation in the troubled Cabo Delgado province.
An Islamic State-affiliated group, known locally as al-Shabab, is reportedly behind these kidnappings. According to reliable sources, these children are being exploited for various purposes, including forced labor, transportation of looted goods, and in some cases, as child soldiers or forced brides.
Mozambique has been grappling with this Islamist insurgency in Cabo Delgado since 2017. The government’s efforts to contain the violence have been bolstered by troops from Rwanda, South Africa, and other regional partners. However, the situation remains volatile.
In 2020, the insurgents carried out a series of brutal attacks, including the beheading of dozens of individuals, some of them children. Witnesses have reported that abducted children have subsequently been used in attacks against their communities.
The United Nations reports that this ongoing conflict has displaced more than 600,000 people and has begun to affect neighboring provinces. Human Rights Watch notes a resurgence of attacks and child abductions in the past two months, calling on the Mozambican government to intensify efforts to locate these children and prevent further kidnappings.
This development follows earlier reports of climate-related disasters and political unrest in Mozambique. The Norwegian Refugee Council describes the situation in Cabo Delgado as a “neglected crisis,” with over 5 million people facing critical levels of hunger.
As the situation continues to unfold, it raises important questions about regional stability, humanitarian response, and the protection of vulnerable populations in conflict zones.