ISIS Affiliate Threatens Religious Freedom in Mozambique

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following factsheet on Mozambique:   

The Islamic State-Mozambique and Its Local Threats to Religious Freedom - Amid persistent insecurity in northern Mozambique, nonstate armed groups have increasingly targeted religious communities, particularly in Cabo Delgado Province. Chief among these violent actors is the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS) local affiliate, ISIS-Mozambique (ISIS-M), which has carried out attacks on villages, places of worship, and religious leaders in recent years, contributing to widespread displacement and fear among local communities. While a complex mix of religious, political, and socioeconomic grievances drives IS-M, its alignment with ISIS and its embrace of a violent interpretation of Islam have rendered Christian communities—and Muslims who reject the group’s ideology—especially vulnerable. This publication examines ISIS-M’s ongoing threat to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and assesses national responses to civilian protection amid the ongoing insurgency.

In its 2026 Annual Report, USCIRF highlighted religious freedom violations and U.S. sanctions related to ISIS affiliates and other nonstate FoRB violators across Africa. 

###   

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].