Maputo, Oct. 2, 2025 (Lusa) - Almost 22,000 people have fled three regions in Cabo Delgado due to the resurgence of terrorist attacks in that northern province of Mozambique, according to data released on Thursday by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
According to a field report from the United Nations agency, "between 19 and 26 September 2025, the escalation of attacks and insecurity caused by armed groups" in Cabo Delgado "triggered new displacements" in the regions of Balama, Mocímboa da Praia and Nangade.
In Balama, 8,268 people from the village of Monapo fled to the localities of Ntete and Mieze, while in Nangade a total of 277 sought refuge in neighbouring villages, including Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado province.
The IOM report adds that during the same period, 13,274 people from Mocímboa da Praia fled, particularly after new attacks on the 30 de Junho and Filipe Nyusi neighbourhoods, near the town, which caused several deaths.
"Food, shelter and protection services were reported as the most urgent needs," reads the report, which totals 21,819 displaced persons in one week, equivalent to 6,012 families, more than half of whom are children (11,380) and including 311 pregnant women and 657 elderly people.
Mozambican president Daniel Chapo said on 25 September that security in Cabo Delgado had improved but that the terrorist threat remained, calling on the Mozambique armed forces (FADM) to come up with "strategies to incinerate" these insurgent groups.
"The reality is that this effort has not been sufficient. Therefore, as we celebrate the 61st anniversary of the FADM, we want to guide the three pillars of the defence and security forces to find strategies to incinerate terrorism in our country," he said.
Daniel Chapo acknowledged the "complexity" of the mission to combat terrorism, which has been ongoing since 2017, but emphasised the level of preparedness achieved in recent years by the armed forces.
‘We know that over the years they have gained experience, created structures and trained many military personnel in the academies, capable of facing these challenges with mastery. Therefore, we recommend sending the best personnel to the Northern Operational Theatre. Terrorism cannot be defeated by leaving the best military personnel, the best officers, family members or the children of the chiefs in the office," he pointed out.
"Every citizen who is part of the defence and security forces must go to the Northern Operational Theatre. This is non-negotiable," he warned.
In Cabo Delgado, a gas-rich province, Chapo said that the threat "requires constant tactical, operational and strategic innovation, international cooperation and improvement" of capabilities.
"There is no doubt that security in Cabo Delgado has improved today compared to three or four years ago, as there are basic conditions for the movement of people and goods with relative safety, despite sporadic attacks by terrorists," he said.
Chapo added that with this "operational pressure" from the FADM, "terrorists have been changing their modus operandi," starting with "carrying out actions that include planting improvised explosive devices on some roads to contain operational advances."
The province of Cabo Delgado has seen an upsurge in attacks by rebel groups since July - with 57,000 displaced in the southern zone alone - targeting the regions of Chiúre, Muidumbe, Quissanga, Ancuabe, Meluco and more recently Mocímboa da Praia, with several deaths reported.
In 2024 alone, at least 349 people died in attacks in northern Mozambique, most of which were claimed by the extremist group Islamic State, an increase of 36% over the previous year, according to a study released by the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies, an academic institution of the US Department of Defence.
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