Church Leaders Urge Peace After Attack on Historic Mozambique Church

In a region grappling with violence, church leaders in northern Mozambique are calling for peace and unity after a historic church was destroyed in Cabo Delgado Province. The St Louis de Montfort parish in Minhoene was the target of an attack by militants, who left a path of destruction in their wake.

The attack, which occurred on Thursday, April 30, resulted in significant damage to church buildings, a kindergarten, and the priests’ residence. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties.

According to local sources and the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the assault was carried out by fighters associated with Islamic State: Central Africa Province.

Archbishop Inácio Saure, President of Mozambique’s Bishops’ Conference, strongly condemned the violence and called for an end to religiously motivated attacks. He emphasized the importance of maintaining peace with the Muslim community, stating, “The Muslims are not our enemies, they are our beloved brethren.”

The archbishop highlighted that the ongoing violence contradicts Mozambique’s historical religious coexistence.

Following the attack, church officials reported extensive devastation. Bishop António Juliasse described the aftermath as a “scene of terror,” noting that both homes and infrastructure were destroyed, leaving residents deeply traumatized.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that civilians were detained and subjected to extremist propaganda by the attackers before they left the area.

St Louis de Montfort parish, established in 1946, has been a significant Catholic hub in a predominantly Muslim area of northern Mozambique. The Cameroonian missionary priests responsible for the parish were not present during the raid and were unharmed.

Despite the absence of clergy during the attack, Bishop Juliasse conveyed that the local Christian community remains profoundly affected.

The insurgency in Cabo Delgado, which began in 2017, has resulted in over 6,300 deaths and displaced at least one million people. The group responsible, known locally as Al Sunnah wa Jama’ah or Al-Shabab, is affiliated with the Islamic State: Central Africa Province but is distinct from groups with similar names in Somalia and Kenya.

Church sources have reported to ACN that at least 118 Christian worship sites have been destroyed by jihadists. Despite these repeated attacks, Bishop Juliasse remarked, “For nine years, we have watched the insurgents burn chapels and churches in the Diocese of Pemba. But the faith of God’s people will never burn.”

ACN continues its efforts to support affected communities in Mozambique through various humanitarian aid and trauma recovery initiatives.

Bishop Juliasse appealed for “attention and solidarity for the victims of Meza,” urging continued support for those impacted by the violence.