At least 25 people were abducted during the month of April in Cabo Delgado province, amid escalating insurgent activity that continues to undermine humanitarian assistance in northern Mozambique, according to a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
According to the document, security incidents increased by 47% in April compared to the previous month, rising from 47 to 69 incidents. Among the recorded cases are acts of violence against civilians, armed clashes, and the detonation of two improvised explosive devices. As reported by Lusa, the report indicates that, of the total incidents recorded, 55 involved violence against civilians and 11 resulted from armed clashes. The incidents led to deaths, kidnappings, looting, and the destruction of property in several districts of the province.
According to OCHA, at least eight civilians lost their lives and 25 were abducted during the period under review. The attacks were concentrated mainly in the districts of Macomia, Mocímboa da Praia, Ancuabe, Nangade, and Meluco, areas that remain among the most affected by the insurgency. Among the incidents highlighted by the United Nations is an attack that took place on April 30 in the village of Minhauene, in the district of Ancuabe, where armed men reportedly killed two civilians and looted medical supplies from a rural health clinic.
The report notes that insecurity remains the main obstacle to humanitarian access in Cabo Delgado, a province that also remains vulnerable to the effects of cyclones, storms, and other extreme weather events recorded in recent months. In addition to security threats, humanitarian organizations face logistical challenges stemming from the deterioration of road infrastructure. OCHA notes that the condition of the roads continues to limit access to remote communities with limited aid coverage.
Localized flooding and infrastructure damage have also temporarily disrupted traffic in some parts of the province, including closures on National Road Number 1 (N1) near the city of Pemba, hindering the transport of humanitarian aid. Fuel shortages and rising operational costs are other factors cited by the United Nations as obstacles to the mobility of teams on the ground and the response capacity of aid organizations.
The report also highlights issues related to community acceptance. According to OCHA, misinformation regarding the response to the cholera outbreak has fueled tensions in some areas. In the district of Quissanga, allegations linking health workers to the spread of the disease reportedly sparked clashes and led to the expulsion of health workers.
Despite the increase in attacks, the document notes that levels of internal displacement recorded in the first months of 2026 remain below those observed in the same period last year, suggesting that some of the affected communities are resorting to local protection mechanisms and short-term displacement.
In total, four incidents were reported that directly affected humanitarian access during April, related to insecurity, movement restrictions, and administrative constraints.
Since October 2017, Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed insurgency linked to extremist groups associated with the Islamic State. The conflict has already claimed more than 6,600 lives and sparked one of the largest humanitarian crises in Southern Africa, affecting hundreds of thousands of people and placing additional pressure on the province’s economic and social recovery efforts, where some of the continent’s largest natural gas projects are concentrated.
