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Twenty Christians killed. Two churches burned down. Some 1,300 homes destroyed. The displacement of at least 2,000 believers.
In four days, from October 9-12, the entire village of Napala in northern Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province was severely destroyed when extremist group al-Shabab (also known as Ansar al-Sunna or Ahlu Sunna Wal Jammah) launched a series of attacks on the predominantly Christian village.
"Hundreds of churches have been burned, countless Christians have been assaulted, and numerous violent incidents against followers of Jesus remain unreported and uninvestigated."
Open Doors field source
While we can't share their names for security reasons, Open Doors' local partners have talked to pastors in the area. One pastor said that the situation "quickly deteriorated" when the Defense and Security Forces* (FDS) withdrew from the fight. "Everything got worse when the FDS tried to intervene without success," the pastor explained. "When they fled, they left everything worse for those people".
A community leader echoed his comments: "Since the military were already in confrontation with terrorists, after they retreated, al-Shabab (which is formally linked to Islamic State and is considered a terrorist group) continued with great fury and attacks, which caused all houses to be destroyed."
Another pastor shared, "We lament the sad death of four elderly sisters who were tied up and burned inside a house by insurgents."
Photos received after the attack from Napala village shows burned-out buildings, the village emptied and a church building in ruin. Some villagers attempted to return to see if anything could be salvaged.
The area has experienced several violent attacks this year that have driven mass displacement. According to ReliefWeb, the mass arrival of people, predominantly into Chiure town, took place between July 24 and August 3, following a series of attacks by non-state armed groups.
According to the International Organization for Migration, this was the largest wave of sudden displacement since early 2024 in the province, where an estimated 425,000 people are internally displaced.
"There is no doubt that the church remains the central target of these attacks," says an Open Doors field source. "Hundreds of churches have been burned, countless Christians have been assaulted, and numerous violent incidents against followers of Jesus remain unreported and uninvestigated.
As a result, the church in Mozambique continues to experience deep trauma. Many believers and leaders live with fear, intimidation and emotional exhaustion. "Although there remains a genuine desire to serve Christ, fear continues to weaken the church's public witness in many areas," a field sources shared.
And with these attacks comes an atmosphere of restriction and oppression. The Mozambican government has imposed strict control over conflict areas like Cabo Delgado.
"Even normal areas are risky," a field source notes. "They are prohibiting any photography or circulation of information. Anyone, whether a foreigner or a Mozambican, found with a phone capable of taking pictures risks arrest or confiscation. This climate of fear and silence allows the truth to be suppressed and the suffering to continue in the shadows."
Our field sources are asking us to pray fervently for the church in Mozambique.
One field source (unnamed for security reasons) shared, "I believe that as members of the Body of Christ, it is our shared responsibility to rise and declare: 'Enough! Enough of the bloodshed and suffering!' So many of our innocent brothers and sisters continue to endure persecution simply because they bear the name of Jesus."