Mozambique’s forgotten war: over 120 children abducted by Islamist insurgents

At least 120 children have been abducted in recent days by Islamist insurgents in Mozambique’s northern oil-rich Cabo Delgado province, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported, adding that they were reportedly being forced into labor, used to transport looted goods, and in some cases turned into child soldiers or forced into marriage.
The kidnappings mark a resurgence of violence in a region ravaged by a jihadist insurgency since 2017. The group responsible, known locally as al-Shabab (unrelated to Somalia’s al-Shabaab), is linked to the Islamic State and has carried out increasingly brutal attacks. The conflict has killed over 6,000 people and displaced more than 1.4 million. Despite international military support from Rwanda, South Africa, and other regional forces, Mozambique’s army has struggled to secure the region. Climate disasters, including multiple cyclones, have further crippled local infrastructure and worsened food insecurity.
According to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), more than five million people in Mozambique now face critical hunger levels, with 900,000 in emergency conditions. NRC’s Secretary General Jan Egeland called Cabo Delgado a “neglected crisis,” urging urgent humanitarian intervention. HRW has demanded that Mozambique’s government act swiftly to rescue the abducted children and protect civilians. With child exploitation rising and aid capacity shrinking — exacerbated by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s aid cuts — Cabo Delgado’s crisis demands renewed international focus.