Six Christians have been beheaded in separate attacks carried out by Islamists in Cabo Delgado Province, northern Mozambique.
Three were captured and killed by militants from Islamic State Mozambique (IS-M) in Matambalale, Muidumbe District, on Sunday 1 November.
Three others suffered the same in separate attacks in Mueda District.
An attack on a Christian village in Cabo Delgado in 2024
In the past few months, IS-M attacks against Christians in Cabo Delgado have become more frequent, with at least eight fatalities reported in September and into October.
Counter-terrorism experts have assessed that IS-M has grown to an estimated 400-500 fighters following a recruitment drive in early 2026.
Read more: Rafael’s story: Fleeing violence in Mozambique
According to a senior analyst from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project, “IS-M is engaged in a political project … that rejects the secular state and advocates for rule based on their interpretation of Islamic law.”
Around 2,750 civilians have been killed by IS-M since 2017, while many thousands have been displaced by the ongoing violence.
How you can pray
Pray that the Lord will comfort those bereaved in these latest attacks. Ask that He will bring an end to the power of Islamist terrorists, for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and for all the communities of Cabo Delgado affected by this ongoing violence.
