In recent weeks, Islamic extremists, locally referred to as al-Shabaab, have launched a series of attacks in the Cabo Delgado province of northern Mozambique. Reports suggest that, so far, over 35 people have been killed in different attacks, at least 10 kidnapped, and thousands have been displaced by the ongoing violence. The Islamic insurgents have also destroyed church infrastructure and houses in raids that appear to be targeted attacks.
Local News site, The Mozambique Times reports the beheading of five individuals on Tuesday, 22 July along the Muaguide River in Intutupue village, Cabo Delgado province.
According to the local news the victims were “caught producing a homemade alcoholic drink, nipa, a practice deemed sinful by the Islamist insurgents… The victims were buried on Wednesday, 23 July at the same production site. The following day, IS propaganda outlet Al-Naba published images of the beheadings, describing the victims as ‘five captured Christian infidels.’”
While it’s unclear if these five men were indeed Christians, the violence and propaganda released indicates the jihadists clear intention towards Christians in the region.
On 24 July 2025, al-Shabaab extremists attacked and set fire to the District Police Command in Chiúre Velho in what has been described as the “most audacious since May 2024”.
The Mozambique Times reports, “The assault began around 11 a.m., when Islamist militants stormed the compound of the administrative post and set fire to public infrastructure, including a school, a health unit, and the police station. A video released on Saturday, 26 July by the IS propaganda agency AMAQ shows a group of about 10 insurgents storming the police station, torching a vehicle, and three of them raising the IS flag at the station’s entrance.”
In a video circulated online, the insurgents profess threats during the attack, saying: “Christians must convert to Islam if they want to escape suffering and find salvation in heaven”, in the local Makua language.
Fears Intensify
An Open Doors’ Field source shares that this direct threat has further intensified fear among the local population, particularly among followers of Jesus.
On Wednesday, 27 July, around 1:30 p.m., al-Shabaab extremists once again simultaneously attacked three villages. Numerous homes were set ablaze, and the situation in these areas remain tense. We were able to obtain visual evidence confirming the destruction and displacement.
The Mozambique Times, reports 18 civilians killed during an ambush on members of the Naparama community defense militia. The incident occurred on 28 July in Melija village.
According to the local news site, the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Melija attack, stating that, “the soldiers of the caliphate attacked the local apostate militias the day before yesterday, in the village of Melija, using various weapons, resulting in the death of 18 members, the burning of dozens of homes, and the destruction of their motorbikes”.
Impact On the Church
Open Doors local church partners report that around 9 a.m. on 30 July 2025, armed attackers invaded Muanquina village in Nassivare, Chiúre District. The attackers specifically targeted Christian institutions and homes, resulting in the burning of two local church buildings. They also set fire to a house of prayer, 43 houses belonging to Christians, and the residence of a pastor. Before retreating, they tore all Bibles and Christian literature which they could lay their hands on. They also looted personal property including chickens, kitchen utensils, and household items from the pastor’s home. The pastor and his family have also had to flee to Namapa, alongside thousands of others.
Another pastor was allegedly captured by the insurgents. As of Wednesday, 6 August, his whereabouts remain unknown.
The attacks continued into August with 15 Christians reported killed on the night of 1 August in Marera, Chiúre. Open Doors’ Field contacts say the victims were going to the main road to flee the attackers when they were ambushed, caught, and beheaded. According to church leaders in the area, the victims were members of a local church which was burned two days earlier (30 July) by the insurgents.
A youth worker from another local church shares that in the early hours of 3 August 2025, al-Shabaab dragged away nine of his family members in Naphela, Chiúre, Cabo Delgado. He explains that during the attack, some family members had hidden and when the insurgents came, some managed to flee while others were captured. Those abducted are aged 9 to 35. Two others aged 12 and 55 remain unaccounted for.
Mass Displacement of the Population
Between 20 to 28 July, the attacks have forced more than 46,000 to flee from the districts of Chiúre, Ancuabe and Muidumbe, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In Chiúre particularly, the humanitarian agency notes “more than 42,000 people uprooted – over half of them children”.
The UN states that over 95,000 have fled the violence since January 2025, further escalating already dire humanitarian needs. This number adds to the over 1.3 million others who have been displaced since 2017.
“It seems like a planned attack, an annual event”, a civil society actor in Mozambique said. “The agenda is deeper than just attacking civilians or beheading people,” he added.
“They can burn a church and leave a mosque. Burn a house and leave another. So, we ask, how do they identify which house to burn? I visited Palma recently. It is one of the districts that has suffered a lot. The damage is still visible. The Christians have not returned. But there are mosques within 5, 10 minutes’ walk. Why have Christians not gone back? It is the same when you visit Mocimboa. We can assume that Christians are not organised, but the question is, ‘where are Christians now?’ It tells you this is not just a coincidence”, he shares.
He believes the strategy of the insurgents is clear: “Show them terror, let them flee, and when people come back, they [Christians] wouldn’t come back”.
Field sources say the district town of Chiúre is now overwhelmed with hundreds of displaced families, some of them Christian. Several households can host up to 15 to 30 people. The overcrowding is worsened by food shortages and heightened vulnerability, especially for children and the elderly.
The Mozambican government is yet to make a statement on the recent events and restrictions on media reporting is still observed.
“How I wish I could drive to any part of this nation without fearing that I’ll be attacked,” laments a Field source.
“Please pray for those in need. Prayers are needed and actions are needed as well. Pray for Cabo Delgado, pray for Mozambique to have a peaceful nation,” he pleads.
Please Pray:
- Please pray for Mozambique in the light of recent events; pray for strength for the local church in the north, largely affected by the attacks.
For the believers:
- Pray the Church in Cabo Delgado will not grow weary but will be empowered to endure persecution with boldness and love.
- Ask God to preserve their faith, unity, and courage.
- Ask God to heal the wounded hearts of families who lost loved ones, homes, churches, and sacred items.
- Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring deep peace to those traumatised, especially children, women, and the elderly.
- Pray for all displaced Christian families, especially children, women, and the elderly, to find safety, strength, and provision in this time of trial.
- Pray for provision for food, potable water, medical care, and shelter to reach every family in need, especially in overcrowded homes.
- Ask God to strengthen the faith of those facing pressure to renounce Christ. May they stand firm and be comforted by the Holy Spirit.
For church leaders:
- Pray for the kidnapped pastor whose whereabouts remain unknown. Pray God preserves his life, strengthens his faith, and gives him courage wherever he is, and also for his safe return to his family and community.
- Intercede for divine protection over pastors, missionaries, and evangelists working in dangerous areas like Chiúre.
- Pray especially for the safe return of those who have been kidnapped and for those under threat or surveillance by extremists.
- Please pray especially for all local church leaders, that the Lord will encourage them to continue serving with wisdom and courage and be a prophetic voice in the midst of fear and chaos.
For authorities:
- Pray for truth and justice to prevail and for authorities to break the silence and respond with compassion and protection for the vulnerable.
- Cry out for an end to the violence and for God’s peace to reign in Chiúre and across Cabo Delgado
Stay updated with the latest prayer requests from the persecuted church.
