War on Christians in Mozambique

By Linda Burkle, PhD

03/07/2024 Mozambique (International Christian Concern) – Historically, Mozambique has been a country characterized by primarily peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims. The Constitution safeguards religious freedom and the right to worship according to one’s beliefs. As a secular nation, religious discrimination is prohibited. Once a Portuguese colony, Catholicism was first introduced following the slave trade. Today, Christians account for 50% of the population, with 33% of the population being Evangelical and Pentecostal, 27% Roman Catholics, and around 20% Muslim. [1] 

Everything changed in 1917, when armed militants, named IS-M, bearing the Islamic State flag, began to wrench havoc predominately in the northern Mozambique province of Cab Delgado.   

“The rise of IS-M was in part due to the radicalization of young men who had studied Islam abroad, where they received more fundamentalist religious training. Upon return to Mozambique, they recruited other disenfranchised young men to join their ranks.  In June 2019, IS-M pledged allegiance to ISIS, affiliated with its Islamic State-Central African Province.  Since that time, IS-M has conducted numerous deadly attacks primarily aimed at Christians.” [2]  

Depending on the source, an estimated 1,800 to 3,000 Christians have been murdered in northern Mozambique since October 2017 in ongoing anti-Christian violence. [3] [4] Additionally, almost a million people have been displaced due to the violent attacks.  Christians, primarily farmers, have had villages burned and crops destroyed, endangering the food supply and thus creating an “acute hunger crisis.” IS-M militants have also disrupted natural gas supplies. [5] 

Recently, these attacks have increased at an alarming rate and frequency as the numbers of IS-M (also referred to as al-Shabab) have grown to several thousand.  They have become increasingly sophisticated in their military operations, tactics, and weaponry, reportedly embedding intelligence cells within the Mozambican military.  The situation is exacerbated by porous borders, with neighboring countries providing an influx of IS al-Shabab affiliates. The Mozambican government blames the violent attacks on foreign terrorists while downplaying the role of local IS-M elements.  As the IS-M organization has grown in strength and level of brutality, it has broadened its international ties and financial base through illicit activities, including extortion and kidnapping. While most attacks continue to occur in the northern region of Cabo Delgado, IS-M is encroaching on neighboring provinces rich with natural resources. [6] Together with Christians, prominent local Muslim leaders have condemned these attacks, forming a coalition to address the conflict and support those adversely affected.  

The international community has also intervened. In response to the growing insurgency, the Southern Africa Development (SADC), Rwanda, and the European Union have deployed troops and provided training to assist the Mozambican government. But these efforts have been compounded by the distrust of central government by regional leaders and the general population. [7]  

 The village of Ntontwe has been attacked several times by jihadists. In one attack, 43 homes were burned, and three people were killed. The village is located close to a major military base of Rwanda’s armed forces, but they arrived too late. “The Rwandan troops came to help us, but when they arrived, the insurgents had already done everything they wanted,” the village leader added. [8]  

“On August 6, 2021, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the designation of IS-M leaders Bonomade Machude Omar and Ibn Omar as ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorists’ under Executive Order 13224. Such a designation freezes all assets and blocks financial transactions with these individuals.” [9]  

The United States State Department website states: “After terrorist attacks began to destabilize northern Mozambique in 2017, the United States provided assistance to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs), in addition to working with Mozambican partners to address the drivers of terrorism, even as the security situation has improved in recent years. The United States and Mozambique share a commitment to regional security and stability, economic development, and improved living standards for all Mozambicans.” [10] However, given the increase in violent attacks in 2024 alone, I would suggest that security and stability have declined. Mozambique is also glaringly absent from the 2024 US Commission on International Religious Freedom Report. [11] 

Following a visit to Mozambique, Gaviria Betancur, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, stated, “While the Government is now geared toward development initiatives for IDPs and host communities, these should complement, rather than come at the expense of protection and humanitarian assistance since the basic needs of the people still remain acute,” the expert noted. She continued, saying, “significant protection and humanitarian challenges remain, especially in the conflict-affected northern provinces of the country. [Author’s note:  this UN report does not reference jihadists or terrorist attacks, rather refers to “conflict.”] Continued protection analysis of the situation and humanitarian response to displaced populations are crucial to identify and mitigate negative coping mechanisms affecting groups in vulnerable situations, including children, women and girls, persons with disabilities and older persons.” [12] Some reports indicate that 20% of Christian girls aged 13-17, in the northern region particularly, are vulnerable to being kidnapped and forced to marry a Muslim man. [13] 

For the first time in 2021, Mozambique was included on the World Watch List published by Open Doors, Inc. It ranked 45 among the top 50 worst countries for persecution of Christians. This year, 2024, Mozambique moved up to the 39th place, indicating the dramatically worsening persecution of Christians. [14] 

On January 4, 2024, IS-M launched a campaign against Christians, “And Kill Them Wherever You Find Them.”   Within a week, eight “operations” were carried out against Christians in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, resulting in 10 Christians murdered and more than 200 houses burned. [15] Between January 4 and February 12, 2024, a composite of multiple reports indicate that IS-M militants carried out attacks resulting in at least 22 murders (including one beheading), one abduction, 237 homes burned, five churches burned as well as a hospital, Christian school, military installations, and other infrastructure buildings burned. [16] [17] [18] [19] These attacks are occurring with little deterrence and counterattacks, leaving Christians at the mercy of IS-M jihadists.  This is truly frightening and warrants international condemnation and intervention.  

On Feb 12, 2024, a passenger bus was shot at in Cabo Delgado province, killing the driver, and the attackers left the following note for the passengers. [20]  

We as the body of Christ must stand with and pray for our persecuted brothers and sister in Mozambique, many of whom have lost everything. One pastor whose family had been killed proclaimed: “They can burn our houses, they can burn our food—but they cannot burn Jesus out of me.” [21] 

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