Mozambique is witnessing a troubling rise in child abductions, as highlighted by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The organization has drawn attention to the situation involving a group linked to Islamic State, known locally as Al-Shabab, in the conflict-stricken Cabo Delgado province. Reports indicate that the group has abducted at least 120 children recently. Although some have returned, they face significant challenges reintegrating into their communities, often burdened by their experiences of forced labor, marriages, and other abuses.
The deputy Africa director at HRW, Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, emphasized the urgent need for Mozambique’s government to enact protective measures to prevent the use of children in conflict and to establish effective reintegration processes to avoid further ostracization. HRW insists on the necessity for medical care and psychosocial assistance for the rescued children, along with government efforts to prevent further abductions and hold perpetrators accountable.
These events occur alongside a UNICEF report detailing a rise in child abductions, recruitment, and use by non-state armed groups, contravening international norms on children’s rights. Mozambique’s Constitution, supported by the Law on the Promotion and Protection of Children’s Rights 2008, outlines the state’s duty to prevent violence and exploitation of children. These national laws align with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Furthermore, international legal frameworks such as Rule 137 of Customary International Humanitarian Law, and Article 8(2)(b)(xxvi) of the Rome Statute, categorize the recruitment of children under 15 as a war crime.
The current crisis in Mozambique is rooted in a 2017 insurgency led by Islamic State-affiliated groups in Cabo Delgado, which has not only destabilized the region but has also severely impacted the domestic economy. Additionally, Amnesty International recently released a report examining human rights violations in the wake of the country’s 2024 elections, exposing unlawful governmental actions, further complicating the humanitarian situation.