Northern Mozambique convenes forum as violence drives new wave of displacement

A two-day forum was opened by Mozambican authorities to discuss solutions for the growing number of displaced persons in the war-torn north. Since the insurgency began in 2017, the ISIL-affiliated ISMP group has driven more than 1.3 million residents from their homes, and a fresh wave of attacks in late 2025 displaced another 100,000. From January to July of this year, at least 28,163 people—65 % of them women and children—were forced to flee, with clashes concentrated around Mocimboa de Praia and spilling into previously safer towns such as Mueda.

International aid has been curtailed, leaving the UN able to assist only 619,000 of the 1.1 million newly affected, while UNICEF says 1.8 million require help. The conflict has resulted in an estimated 6,000 deaths since its onset. Despite heavy troop deployments, the government has yet to secure a decisive military victory, prompting some observers to call for alternative approaches.