warning of a rise in abductions in the country’s troubled Cabo Delgado province. The children are reportedly being used by an Islamic State-linked group known locally as al-Shabab to transport looted goods, perform forced labour, and in some cases serve as child soldiers or be forced into marriage. Mozambique has been battling the Islamist insurgency in Cabo Delgado since 2017. Government forces have struggled to contain the violence, relying on support from troops sent by Rwanda, South Africa, and other regional partners. In 2020, the insurgents carried out a wave of attacks in which they beheaded dozens of people, including children. Witnesses have said that children abducted from towns and villages have been used as fighters in subsequent attacks.

The violence has displaced more than 600,000 people and spilled into neighbouring provinces, according to the United Nations. Human Rights Watch said there had been a resurgence of attacks and child kidnappings in the last two months and called on Mozambique’s government to do more to find the children and prevent further abductions. (Jamaica Gleaner)