The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has warned that armed attacks in the northern provinces of Mozambique, particularly in Cabo Delgado, are disrupting agricultural activity. An estimated 461,000 people remain internally displaced due to ongoing violence, preventing many families from engaging in farming, according to a report cited by Lusa.
Cabo Delgado, a gas-rich province, has faced an armed insurgency since 2017 that has claimed thousands of lives and triggered a humanitarian crisis with over one million displaced people. In May, attacks were also recorded in the neighboring province of Niassa and, more recently, in Nampula, which hosts thousands of displaced persons from districts attacked in southern Cabo Delgado.
The FAO report highlights that insecurity and attacks by non-state armed groups continue to hinder agricultural activity, particularly in Cabo Delgado and Nampula. In these provinces, displaced families face severe challenges in engaging in income-generating activities, including farming.
“Many depend on humanitarian food assistance, which has also been disrupted by insecurity,” the report states. The situation is worsening food vulnerability, with these regions experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, making access to food and basic livelihoods increasingly difficult.
Regarding risks for 2026, FAO warns of increased cyclonic activity during La Niña phases, raising the likelihood of localized flooding and crop damage. Despite forecasts of abundant seasonal rainfall, drier-than-normal conditions in some southern and central provinces in September—just before the planting season—and limited rainfall projected for October could delay agricultural production.
In late July, attacks in Cabo Delgado displaced more than 57,000 people in the Chiúre district, according to official data. The province has seen a resurgence of attacks in Chiúre, Muidumbe, Quissanga, Ancuabe, and Meluco, and more recently in Mocímboa da Praia, where several deaths occurred, prompting Doctors Without Borders (MSF) to suspend activities for security reasons.
Between September 19 and 26, 2025, the escalation of violence and insecurity in Cabo Delgado resulted in around 22,000 new displacements in the districts of Balama, Mocímboa da Praia, and Nangade. Despite the improvement in security noted by President Daniel Chapo, the terrorist threat persists, with the Head of State urging the Mozambican Armed Defense Forces to develop strategies to “annihilate” the insurgent groups.
In 2024, at least 349 people were killed in attacks in northern Mozambique, most claimed by the extremist group Islamic State, representing a 36% increase compared to the previous year. Government data indicate that two million Mozambicans live in food insecurity, with 148,000 in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Source: Lusa
