Maputo, June 24, 2025 (Lusa) - Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday warned of an increase in the number of children abducted by terrorist groups operating since 2017 in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, who are being used for forced labour, and called on the government to take action.
"The increase in child abductions in Cabo Delgado exacerbates the horrors of the conflict in Mozambique (...) Al-Shebab must spare children from the conflict and immediately release those who have been abducted,” said HRW’s deputy director for Africa, Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, quoted in a statement from the non-governmental organisation (NGO) that defends human rights.
In the statement, HRW indicates that children are abducted by rebels linked to the Islamic State group to be used to “transport looted goods, perform forced labour, forced marriages and participate in conflicts.”
The human rights organisation also reports that data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) indicate that some children who are kidnapped face difficulties reintegrating into their communities after being released.
Human Rights Watch calls on the Mozambican government to take concrete measures to protect children and prevent armed groups from using them as instruments of conflict, including a plan for their reintegration into their communities after they are released by rebel groups.
“The Mozambican authorities should seek to prevent further abductions, investigate existing cases and prosecute those responsible fairly, as well as ensuring adequate support for victims. Rescued children need medical care, psychosocial assistance and reintegration mechanisms that guarantee their protection and well-being,” reads the organisation’s statement, quoting the same HRW deputy director for Africa.
Lusa reported on June 20 that Mozambique was the country with the second highest percentage increase (525%) in serious violations against children in armed conflict in 2024, behind only Lebanon, according to a new UN report.
The data are contained in the UN Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflict in 2024, which indicates that the largest percentage increases were in Lebanon (545%), Mozambique (525%), Haiti (490%), Ethiopia (235%) and Ukraine (105%).
In a chapter dedicated to the conflict in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, the report indicates that the UN verified 954 serious violations against 507 children (402 boys, 105 girls), in addition to one serious violation that occurred in 2023 but could only be verified last year.
The recruitment and use of 403 children by armed groups and the detention of 51 children by the Mozambique Police (49) and the Rwanda Defence Forces (2) for alleged association with armed groups were verified.
The UN was able to verify the killing (32) and maiming (12) of 44 children by unidentified perpetrators (22), armed groups (15) and the Mozambique armed forces (7), including casualties caused by explosive devices (17).
Also last year, the UN verified the abduction of 468 children by armed groups in this conflict, including for recruitment. Eleven minors were released.
Since October 1, 2017, the gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed rebellion with attacks claimed by movements associated with the Islamic State extremist group, which have displaced more than one million people.
In 2024 alone, at least 349 people died in attacks by Islamic extremist groups in the province, an increase of 36% over the previous year, according to data recently released by the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies, an academic institution of the US Department of Defence that analyses conflicts in Africa.
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