Cabo Delgado security threats challenge Mozambique 2027 census

Mozambique’s National Statistics Institute (INE) has warned that security constraints in Cabo Delgado province may complicate the 2027 general population census. The province has faced an armed insurgency since 2017, which has resulted in over 6,600 deaths and the displacement of approximately 1.2 million people.

Lucas Mateus, the INE's provincial delegate for Cabo Delgado, stated that while the goal is to achieve full coverage, the insurgency presents significant challenges. Currently, cartographic updating work is underway across 12 districts to prepare administrative boundaries and infrastructure data for the census. This preparatory phase is reportedly proceeding without major disruptions, even in areas previously impacted by extremist activity. The INE intends to collaborate with local authorities to ensure enumerators can safely access necessary locations during the operation.