A surge in violence by non-state armed groups in the districts of Macomia and Muidumbe has triggered a fresh wave of displacement in northern Mozambique. According to a field report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 573 individuals—comprising 177 families—were forced to flee their homes between April 1 and April 17, 2026.
The IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) indicates that the insecurity centers on the localities of Nkóe and Nguida in Macomia, as well as Miengueleva, Namacande, and Chitunda in Muidumbe. Victims are currently being relocated to safer areas within the same districts.
The demographic data highlights the vulnerability of those affected: children account for the majority of the displaced population (52%), followed by women (26%) and men (22%). Humanitarian agencies report that there is an urgent need for food assistance, emergency shelter, and essential non-food items.
The recent spike in violence has been deadly. Local sources confirmed that at least two peasant farmers were killed in an attack on the village of Nguida, near the Messalo River, last Wednesday. This incident follows an earlier attack on the village of Nkoé, which resulted in at least one death and multiple injuries during confrontations with local authorities.
Read more: Mozambique: locals report movement of terrorists in Cabo Delgado
Cabo Delgado, a province rich in natural gas, has been the epicenter of an extremist insurgency since October 2017. Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) underscores the severity of the long-standing crisis, estimating that the conflict has claimed 6,518 lives since its inception.
Of the more than 2,300 violent events recorded in the region since 2017, the vast majority have been linked to elements associated with the Islamic State Mozambique (EIM).
