MOZAMBIQUE: AT LEAST 120 BOYS AND GIRLS ABDUCTED THIS YEAR

Please pray for the 120 boys and girls who have been abducted by the extremist islamic group al-Shabaab in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province since January, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).  

Of the 120 children reported kidnapped, only six have been released. Those remaining captive are believed to be facing gruelling forced labour – lifting and transporting stolen goods, carrying out agricultural work, and being forced into marriage or fighting. 

“When Islamist terror groups attack communities, targeting the most vulnerable – including children and Christians – is a primary objective,” notes Yonas Dembele*, a World Watch Research analyst. “This horrifying pattern is now unfolding in northern Mozambique. The abduction of children is a war crime, and creates lasting, devastating trauma for the whole community.”  

Since 2017, over 6,000 people have been killed by the terror insurgency spreading across Mozambique.

The country is number 37 on this year’s World Watch List, where the objective of active Islamic extremist groups is to establish a strict Islamic state. Christians are often targeted as symbols of resistance. In addition, believers are often caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict between government forces and jihadist groups, making them even more vulnerable to violence and displacement.  

Join and share the Arise Africa campaign 

Church leaders across sub-Saharan Africa are calling on Christians worldwide to stand with them in prayer and action as part of Open Doors’ Arise Africa campaign. More than 16.2 million Christians have been displaced across the region by violence and conflict, but your prayers, actions and gifts can help bring support and restore them. 

There are lots of ways to get involved, including signing the Arise Africa petition. If you’ve already signed it, please share it with your church! Every signature counts.  

You can also discover more resources and ways to get involved on the Arise Africa campaign page. Thank you for helping to stop the violence and start the healing. 

*Name changed for security reasons