ISIS-Linked Militants Seize Strategic Villages in Northern Mozambique as Insurgency Regroups

A resurgent wave of jihadist violence has erupted in Northern Mozambique, with ISIS-affiliated militants seizing control of at least four strategic villages in Cabo Delgado Province. The attacks signal a troubling shift in momentum after a period of relative calm brought by multinational counterinsurgency efforts. Civilians are fleeing in the thousands, military assets are stretched thin, and regional analysts are warning of a broader escalation that could destabilize southern Africa’s security landscape.

Situation Report: What’s Happening in Cabo Delgado

Key Villages Captured:

Chai (Macomia District)
Mucojo (Mocímboa da Praia District)
Nova Zambézia (Mocímboa da Praia District)
Quiterajo (Quissanga District)

These locations are not arbitrary; each sits at vital transport, supply, or strategic chokepoints near the coast or forest routes. Eyewitnesses recount coordinated night-time raids, execution-style killings, and forced recruitment of young boys into the insurgent ranks.

Death Toll and Displacement:

Confirmed Dead: 27 civilians
Injured: Undisclosed due to blocked access
Displaced: Over 8,000 (UNHCR figures pending validation)
Schools and Clinics Burned: 11
Markets and Food Stocks Looted: Reported in 6 villages

“They came in numbers, shouting in Arabic and local dialects. They didn’t just kill—they destroyed everything: wells, solar lights, even schoolbooks,”
— Testimony from displaced teacher, Pemba

Strategic Value of the Captured Territory

These coastal and inland villages form a corridor linking the forest strongholds of insurgents to maritime escape routes and supply chains. Intelligence analysts believe the militants are:

Reasserting territorial control
Creating a rear base near Mocímboa da Praia, once their de facto capital
Exploiting a gap in multinational patrol rotations

Moreover, with the rainy season ending, the terrain has become more navigable—ideal for guerrilla tactics.

🔍 Insurgency Profile: Who Are the Militants?

The attackers are believed to be Ahlu Sunnah wa Jama’a (ASWJ), operating under the banner of Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP). Since pledging allegiance to ISIS in 2019, ASWJ has evolved from a fragmented rural cult to a transnational jihadist proxy, receiving ideological and possibly logistical support from external actors via dark web channels and cross-border trafficking routes.

Military & Government Response

The Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM), along with deployed Rwandan peacekeeping units, have initiated Operation Nguvu Mpya (“New Strength”) to reclaim the lost territories. However, reports suggest:

Ambush tactics and IEDs have delayed ground advances
Air reconnaissance is hindered by tree canopy cover
Villagers remain reluctant to cooperate due to fear of reprisal

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) has called for emergency coordination meetings, while the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) has issued a red alert for international agencies operating in Palma and Afungi.

Economic and Regional Implications

Cabo Delgado is home to Africa’s largest liquified natural gas (LNG) reserves, with TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil investing over $60 billion. With renewed insecurity:

LNG operations risk suspension or costlier security premiums
Cross-border trade with Tanzania’s Mtwara region is disrupted
Refugee spillover threatens to strain southern Tanzanian districts
Extremists may establish maritime smuggling channels into the Indian Ocean

🎙️ Expert Commentary – Emmanuel Kotin, Executive Director, ACCT

“What we’re witnessing in Mozambique is not a relapse—it is a strategic resurgence. ISIS is no longer interested in headline attacks; they are consolidating zones of influence through economic sabotage and ideological entrenchment. The international community must treat Cabo Delgado not as a local conflict, but as a regional testbed for transnational extremism.”

“To break the cycle, we need not only kinetic military operations but also robust counter-radicalization, digital surveillance of recruitment channels, and socio-economic interventions that undercut the insurgents’ appeal. Africa cannot afford to let Mozambique become another Sahel.”

A Call for Unified African Strategy

This resurgence is a wake-up call. The threat posed by ISIS in Mozambique is not confined to one province—it signals a continental threat evolution. With Boko Haram in the west, Al-Shabaab in the east, and ISCAP in the south, the jihadist chessboard is expanding.

As the Africa Center for Counter Terrorism (ACCT) continues to monitor the situation, we urge regional security coalitions, AU policymakers, and international partners to reinforce their commitment, share intelligence, and act proactively.