Cabo Delgado displacement and insurgency crisis

The humanitarian and displacement crisis in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, driven by a long-standing armed insurgency, has seen shifting trends in population movement and government response.

Data from the International Organization for Migration indicates that over 730,000 people have returned to their places of origin. However, the country still recorded 663,769 internally displaced persons (IDPs) as of July 2026, a slight increase attributed to expanded monitoring in Gaza province following heavy rains and flooding. While the number of displaced persons in Cabo Delgado fell by 5% due to returns, new displacements continue in certain localities following renewed attacks.

In response to the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in more than 6,600 deaths and displaced over 1.2 million people since 2017, the Mozambican government has formally addressed the need to halt human rights violations. Following recommendations from the United Nations' Universal Periodic Review, the Ministry of Justice, Constitutional Affairs and Religious Affairs pledged to implement measures to strengthen the rule of law and protect vulnerable populations from forced displacements.