Systematic sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, according to reports from local observers and victims. Both insurgent groups and government security forces are accused of widespread rape and sexual abuse targeting women and girls amidst a long-running conflict in the northern region.
- Location: Cabo Delgado, Northern Mozambique.
- Alleged Perpetrators: Insurgent militants and state security forces.
- Primary Crimes: Generalized sexual violence and systematic rape.
- Context: An insurgency that has destabilized the region since 2017.
Systemic Abuse by Multiple Actors
Reports from the ground indicate that sexual violence in Cabo Delgado is not incidental but generalized. According to victim testimonies and local reports, women and girls are targeted by two primary opposing forces: the insurgents operating in the region and the security forces deployed to combat them.
Insurgent groups reportedly carry out mass rapes during raids on villages, using the violence to terrorize populations and assert control. Simultaneously, reports indicate that government security forces have committed similar abuses, often occurring at checkpoints or during military operations. These accounts suggest a pattern where sexual violence is utilized by both sides to exert power over the civilian population.
Barriers to Medical and Psychological Care
The scale of the violence is compounded by a critical lack of support for survivors. According to reports, many victims lack access to essential post-rape medical care, including emergency contraception and prophylaxis to prevent HIV/AIDS.
The collapse of local infrastructure due to the conflict has left few functional health centers. Survivors also face severe psychological trauma with almost no access to specialized mental health services. This void in care increases the long-term vulnerability of women and girls in the displacement camps and rural areas of the province.
The Insurgency in Northern Mozambique
The violence is embedded in a broader conflict that began in 2017 in Cabo Delgado. The insurgency, led by local militants with alleged links to global jihadist networks, has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and caused thousands of deaths.
The region is rich in natural gas reserves, which has attracted significant international investment and increased the strategic importance of the area. The Mozambican government has deployed national troops and sought assistance from regional allies to reclaim territory from the insurgents, but the resulting military environment has frequently led to reported human rights abuses against the very civilians the forces are tasked to protect.
The use of sexual violence in this conflict serves as a tool for displacement and subjugation, leaving a legacy of trauma that persists regardless of which force controls the territory.
Local Human Rights Observer
Current Situation and Outlook
While military operations continue to shift the front lines in Cabo Delgado, the reports of generalized sexual violence highlight a persistent failure to protect civilian populations. International observers continue to call for accountability for both insurgent leaders and state security personnel involved in these crimes.
