More than 300,000 people have been newly displaced in northern Mozambique since July 2025 as an insurgency linked to the Islamic State (IS) expands its violent campaign, deepening one of Africa’s most protracted and under-reported humanitarian crises. The surge in displacement brings the total number of people forced from their homes since the insurgency began in 2017 to over one million, with many families uprooted multiple times as fighting spreads beyond the traditional conflict zones of Cabo Delgado province into neighbouring areas such as Nampula.
The group behind the attacks, known locally as Islamic State-Mozambique (ISM), has intensified its operations this year, carrying out frequent raids on villages, ambushes on transportation routes, and other forms of violence that have driven civilians to flee in large numbers. In November alone, more than 100,000 people were displaced, according to international migration agencies, highlighting the scale and rapid pace of the crisis.
The Mozambican government, supported by around 4,000–5,000 Rwandan troops deployed since 2021, has struggled to contain the insurgency. Analysts say that while these forces initially pushed back militants in certain areas, violence against civilians has not abated and, in some cases, has increased. Reports from conflict monitors suggest that insurgent attacks and civilian casualties are on the rise, even as government and allied troops attempt counter-offensives.
Humanitarian agencies warn that the deterioration of security conditions has compounded severe shortages in aid. Donor funding for relief efforts has fallen sharply in 2025, with only about 55 % of the estimated $355 million required for a full humanitarian response funded so far, leaving many displaced families without access to basic services such as food, shelter, healthcare, and clean water.
The crisis has been particularly devastating for women and children, who make up a large proportion of the displaced. Aid organisations have documented widespread risks including sexual violence, exploitation, forced recruitment of children by armed groups, and the deaths of civilians caught in crossfire. In past waves of violence, thousands of children have been reportedly orphaned, abducted, or separated from their families, exacerbating long-term psychosocial trauma and vulnerability.
Amid this upheaval, some government officials have signalled interest in pursuing dialogue with insurgent leaders to end the conflict, but critics argue that there has been no credible framework for peace talks and that political leadership has failed to implement meaningful reconciliation or protection strategies for affected communities. Meanwhile, much of the military focus appears oriented toward securing large energy projects in the region, including a multibillion-dollar LNG investment, rather than prioritising civilian security across the conflict zone.
The ongoing displacement crisis has overwhelmed local resources, with overcrowded makeshift camps and spontaneous settlements springing up along roadsides and in towns. Efforts to register and support displaced populations are hampered by continuing insecurity, limited infrastructure, and chronic shortages of humanitarian supplies. International observers have expressed concern that, without a major surge in aid and a comprehensive political strategy, the humanitarian situation will continue to deteriorate, leaving hundreds of thousands more vulnerable to violence, disease, and deprivation across northern Mozambique.
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