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Mozambique child abductions

Mozambique is facing a chilling escalation in child abductions, with over 120 minors kidnapped in recent weeks by Islamist militants in the northern Cabo Delgado region. According to Human Rights Watch, the group known locally as “Al‑Shabab”—linked to the Islamic State—is forcibly enlisting children as porters, combatants, brides, or domestic laborers. Eyewitnesses and United Nations officials confirm that the abductions surged in May and June, with at least nine separate incidents documented. In one harrowing event, seven children—including both boys and girls—were abducted from Mumu village on January 23; only two were eventually released. Many of the missing youths remain unaccounted for, trapped in environments of extreme exploitation and trauma.

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This wave of kidnappings is symptomatic of Cabo Delgado’s prolonged conflict, a crisis that began in 2017 and has so far displaced over 600,000 individuals. The area suffers not only from insurgent violence but also from climate shocks, malnutrition, and cuts in foreign aid—factors that collectively exacerbate civilian suffering. Rights advocates—including Human Rights Watch—are urgently calling for the Mozambican government and global partners to intensify rescue operations, strengthen reintegration programs, and ensure that returnees receive psychological, medical, and social support. Reintegration remains critical; returning children are at risk of stigma and require community-based protection.

International humanitarian organizations—including UNICEF and the Norwegian Refugee Council—warn that the crisis is being overlooked. NRC Secretary-General Jan Egeland describes Cabo Delgado as a “neglected crisis”, where violence, hunger, and ecological shocks are converging. Currently, more than five million Mozambicans are experiencing critical food insecurity, with nearly one million at emergency levels. The targeting of children—especially those under 15—for abduction and forced recruitment is a war crime under international law, specifically the Rome Statute and UN humanitarian rules. Mozambican authorities, alongside regional forces from Rwanda and South Africa, are being urged to not only recapture the missing but also prosecute perpetrators effectively. This crisis reinforces the urgent need for a comprehensive global response: increased humanitarian aid, bolstered security interventions, and robust child protection frameworks. Mozambique’s path to recovery hinges on safeguarding its most vulnerable—its children—and ensuring accountability for grievous violations in Cabo Delgado.

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