Mozambique: Islamic State jihadists kill 10 people in savage attacks, beheading two victims
- Mahamunimodi Team
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
The Niassa Special Reserve in Mozambique—one of Africa’s largest and most biodiverse protected areas—has become a tragic backdrop to the increasing threat of Islamist insurgency in southern Africa. Recent brutal attacks by militants affiliated with Islamic State have not only claimed innocent lives but also threatened to unravel decades of painstaking conservation work in this critical wilderness.
On April 29, 2025, Islamic State-linked militants launched a violent assault on buildings within the reserve, killing two anti-poaching rangers, seriously injuring another, and leaving two more unaccounted for. This followed a similarly grisly attack just 10 days earlier on a nearby safari camp, where two local carpenters were beheaded and six soldiers were killed. The group responsible, known locally as Al-Shabaab (distinct from the Somali group of the same name), has pledged allegiance to Islamic State and has been escalating its operations across northern Mozambique since 2017.
These militant attacks are not just acts of terror—they are calculated strikes aimed at disrupting stability, displacing communities, and derailing the region’s fragile economic and ecological gains. The Niassa Reserve, known for its thriving populations of lions, elephants, leopards, and wild dogs, has seen remarkable progress thanks to collaboration between the Mozambican government, local communities, and international conservationists. But these gains are now at risk. According to Colleen Begg, managing director of the Niassa Carnivore Project, the violence has instilled deep fear among local communities and conservation workers alike. Her organization’s headquarters were among the facilities targeted in the April raid.
Nine conservation and safari camps have since been abandoned, one of them entirely destroyed by militants. This loss extends beyond human tragedy—it means patrols to deter poaching have ceased, monitoring of endangered species has stalled, and vital community engagement programs are in limbo. The vacuum left behind could quickly be filled by illegal wildlife trafficking, deforestation, and further insecurity.
Islamic State-Mozambique has capitalized on the region's socio-economic fragility. Their rise was notably marked by the 2021 siege of Palma, a coastal town near massive natural gas reserves. The attack forced energy giant TotalEnergies to suspend a $20 billion gas project. Despite subsequent military crackdowns supported by regional forces like the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Rwandan troops, the group remains resilient, shifting operations into more remote areas like Niassa.
More than one million people have been displaced by the insurgency since its emergence. These attacks are not only destabilizing Mozambique but are part of a broader trend of Islamic State affiliates seeking to entrench themselves across sub-Saharan Africa—from the Sahel to the Congo Basin and now into southern Africa.
Experts warn that ignoring the ecological dimension of such conflicts would be a mistake. Niassa, spanning over 42,000 square kilometers, plays a critical role in regional climate regulation and biodiversity preservation. Its loss or degradation would have ripple effects beyond Mozambique’s borders.
The Mozambican army has reportedly launched operations to track and neutralize the militants responsible. However, local communities, conservationists, and international observers stress that military action alone will not be enough. Long-term stability will require a renewed focus on economic development, social cohesion, and sustained investment in conservation-led community initiatives that offer alternatives to extremism.
Mozambique stands at a crossroads—either the global community comes together to support peace and protect one of Africa’s last great wildernesses, or the region may descend into a cycle of violence and ecological loss that will be far more difficult to reverse.
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