‘We Christians are targets’: New attacks in Mozambique

Since a 2017 revolt began in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, Christians have been targeted by violence. The rebels were Islamic militants, and quickly drew support from the Islamic State group.

Even though Mozambique opened its doors to armies from surrounding nations, the violence continued—and, in 2022, the extremist group was named as an official province of the Islamic State group. The violence has created a massive humanitarian crisis; the United Nations estimates there are nearly 670,000 displaced people in Cabo Delgado alone.

While the violence decreased slightly in 2023—and the government of Mozambique downplayed the violence, encouraging displaced people from the region to return home—new incidents have shown how much risk there still is, particularly for followers of Jesus.

The latest attacks have hit military targets … but the Islamic State province has also attacked churches and Christians.

On February 12, the church and offices of Our Lady of Africa Mission in the city of Mazeze were set ablaze following a terrorist attack on the port city, which serves as the province’s capital. A hospital and market were also destroyed in the assault.

According to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, Islamic State group radicals raided three communities in Cabo Delgado on February 9 2024, killing and kidnapping an unknown number of people and prompting hundreds to flee.

Open Doors partners recently spoke with Pastor Mario*, a church leader in the region. “This is the situation of the church in Mozambique, especially here in the north,” he said. “In Mozambique, we Christians are targets of much persecution, many believers are raped, killed, several churches and houses destroyed.

“Recently, Islamic terrorists gave a warning to the Christian population to convert to Islam … Five Christians returning from hunting [were attacked on] January 31. A young man was captured while trying to defend his father, but the father was beheaded in [the] attack.”

Three other children managed to flee and inform local police, who started a search leading to the discovery of the father’s body. The captured son remains missing.

Another attack took place on January 27. Militants attacked three displaced Christians in the village of Pulo while they were returning home from work.

“We were ambushed by seven terrorists,” one of the survivors said. “They asked if we had seen any group of police or military and we answered ‘no,’ and soon, another terrorist approached us and said: ‘Each one speak their religion.’ Before we started talking, they found out we were Christians and from there we started to flee.”

According to our local partners, the recurring attacks have forced many of the displaced people—who reside in resettlement centers—to do odd jobs and live off any food they can find. Open Doors’ field partners say many of the displaced have been diagnosed with health problems relating to their blood because of the food they are forced to eat.

The spiritual and emotional impact of these attacks on the church is also crippling. Many pastors have shared with our partners in the past that they are not able to minister to the displaced church, as they, too, are struggling to process the attacks.

Pastor Mario asks us to urgently pray. “We ask our brothers and sisters to intercede for bereaved families and in Cabo Delgado,” he says. “Let us pray for the protection and peace of the church in Mozambique. We thank Him for the miracle the Lord has given in the salvation of the Son.”

*Name changed to protect identity

please pray

Please, stand with your family in Mozambique today as they endure this latest wave of violence. Here’s how you can pray:

Pray for the mourning and displaced Christian families. May God's Spirit be their comfort.
Pray for church leaders and Christians in northern Mozambique to remain strong.
Pray for peace to be restored.
Pray that Jesus will soften the hearts of the Islamic extremists—and that they will miraculously find His love and repent.
Pray for all displaced people to find peace, community and fellowship. Pray those who don’t know Jesus would find Him, and those who do follow Jesus would grow in faith.
Pray for the Lord’s provision for the basic needs of the displaced, especially food.

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‘We Christians are targets’: New attacks in Mozambique

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