Churches destroyed, thousands displaced

Christians working in Mozambique are becoming increasingly concerned about the human cost of the wave of violence now sweeping south across the country.

The persecuted-church agency Open Doors reports that over 70,000 people, mostly women and children, have been displaced from their homes in northern Mozambique following a sharp rise in attacks by Islamist militants.

The escalation in Cabo Delgado province started earlier this year when Islamic State Mozambique attacked security forces, killing at least 20 soldiers. Since then they have moved farther, attacking villages, and forcing people to flee. The total number of those displaced has now reached 650,000.

Churches, homes and shops are regularly destroyed in the attacks. There are also reports of beheadings and kidnappings. The Islamists encourage the local population to convert and impose taxes in return for protection of their homes and properties.

Janet Phythian is a Mission Associate with Church Mission Society. She is currently working in central Mozambique, where her Growing Hope ministry helps churches start small vegetable gardens, using Farming God’s Way techniques. She says: ‘Everyone is concerned, as the insurgents have now moved farther south than ever before, near to major ports and trading centres. No one has confidence in the government and the armed forces on the ground to repel the insurgents. In practice Christians feel powerless, but are praying for churches in the area.’

Mozambique expert Dr Joseph Hanlon, a lecturer at the Open University, agrees. ‘Training from the EU and US has done little to improve the motivation and competence of the Mozambican armed forces. Rwandan forces are maintaining security in the northern gas production zones. And Tanzanian troops appear to have pushed the insurgents out of Nangade district on the Rovuma river border, so they have responded by moving south.

Among those forced from their homes recently is 20-year-old Maria*. She says: ‘My father and I had taken refuge in the house of my father’s youngest brother. When Islamist militants arrived they burned it down. I fled with my two-year-old daughter in my arms but, in the chaos, lost track of my father and uncle. I joined a group of people and one man who knew me, said: “Daughter, I’m sorry to inform you, I saw the bodies of your father and your uncle. They were tied up and shot dead.” ’

Joshua Williams of Open Doors said: ‘We call on Mozambique and her international partners to acknowledge the scale and seriousness of the situation in the north, while addressing the root causes through both military and non-military means. The situation in northern Mozambique has the potential to destabilise the whole region.”

Phythian concluded: ‘This is a very worrying situation. Mozambique always prided itself on being a country where all religions could coexist. The long civil war is still raw and traumatic, so this is a disaster for the country.’ 

*Name changed to preserve anonymity