The United Nations has called for negotiations to help end the conflict in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, warning that a military victory over jihadist insurgents does not appear imminent.
Mozambique has been battling an insurgency in Cabo Delgado linked to the Islamic State group. The conflict has been marked by attacks on civilians and security forces, including beheadings, and has displaced large numbers of people.
“The frequency, severity and scale of attacks against civilians have increased over the past year,” UN Special Rapporteur Ben Saul said in a report released Friday following his visit to Mozambique from August 4 to 14.
Saul visited the country to assess whether Mozambique’s counter-terrorism laws, policies and practices comply with international human rights standards.
UN special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council and do not speak on behalf of the United Nations itself.
The report said Mozambique’s current military strategy, despite support from Rwandan forces, has failed to decisively defeat the insurgency.
Rwandan troops have been deployed in Cabo Delgado since 2021 to support Mozambican forces in an operation also backed by the European Union.
According to the report, the military posture has largely amounted to “offensive defence” rather than sustained efforts to pursue and dismantle the armed group.
“While this dampens hostilities, it risks enabling the group to rebuild,” the report said.
The insurgency has also threatened major economic interests in the gas-rich province, which has attracted investments from energy giants including France’s TotalEnergies, Italy’s ENI and US-based ExxonMobil.
The conflict has killed an estimated 6,632 people, including 2,772 civilians, between 2017 and mid-2026, according to figures cited from ACLED, which tracks conflicts around the world.
About 1.5 million people have been displaced, while an estimated 1.7 million required humanitarian assistance in 2026, the report said.
Beyond the loss of lives, the conflict has disrupted livelihoods and access to land, property and essential services, while separating families.
The UN expert’s assessment underscores the continuing humanitarian and security challenges facing Mozambique and the limitations of relying solely on military action to bring the conflict to an end.
Saul’s call for negotiations adds to growing concerns that a broader political and humanitarian approach may be necessary to address the roots of the insurgency and achieve lasting peace in Cabo Delgado.
