AP
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Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Tuesday that at least 120 children have been lured into jihadist rebels in northern Mozambique, warning of an increase in accrual in the country’s troubled province of Cabo delgado.
Children are reportedly used by the Islamic State Chain Group, known locally as al-Shabaab, to transport loot, carry forced labor, and in some cases serve as children’s soldiers or be forced to marry.
Mozambique has been fighting the Islamist rebellion in Cabo delgado since 2017. Government forces are struggling to contain violence and rely on support from the military sent from Rwanda, South Africa and other regional partners.
In 2020, the Rebels carried out a wave of attacks that beheaded dozens of people, including children. Witnesses say children accused of towns and villages are being used as fighters in subsequent attacks.
According to the United Nations, the violence has driven out more than 600,000 people and spilled into nearby states. The HRW said there has been a revival of attacks and child enticements over the past two months, calling on the Mozambique government to do more to find children and prevent further acquiring.
The issue of Cabo Delgado was largely overshadowed by Mozambique’s deadly and prolonged election protests last year. Cabo Delgado has also been hit by several cyclones recently, and is hurt by US President Donald Trump’s cuts in foreign aid.
Jan Egland, executive director of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), visited Cabo Delgado this month and described the situation in northern Mozambique as a neglected crisis.
“Climate shocks, increased violence and spiral hunger have had a terrible impact on the population,” Egland said.
The NRC said over 5 million people are facing serious levels of hunger and over 900,000 people face emergency hunger terms.
