Mozambique: Access Snapshot - Northern Provinces (Cabo Delgado, Niassa, Nampula) as of 31 December 2025

Overview

Conflict, insecurity and repeated displacement continued to shape an unpredictable operating environment across Cabo Delgado and parts of Nampula province. Since January 2025, more than 345,175 people have been displaced, many for the second or third time, deepening vulnerability and increasing pressure on already fragile host communities. The main security incidents were concentrated in Macomia, Muidumbe, Mocímboa da Praia, Mueda, Nangade and Quissanga districts.
Violence against civilians included killings, abductions, attacks on villages, looting and destruction of property. Four improvised explosive device (IED) incidents were recorded, including two along the N380 road, a key humanitarian corridor serving northern high severity districts such as Muidumbe, Nangade and Mocimboa da Praia. These incidents increased risks for affected communities and humanitarian personnel, significantly restricting safe movement.
Armed clashes between Security and Defense Forces and non-State armed groups were reported across Mueda, Muidumbe, Nangade, Mocímboa da Praia and Macomia, further limiting access and increasing fear among affected populations.
Tensions at distribution sites in Mecufi, Chiúre and Erati also constrained operations. Protests linked to limited assistance provided and contested beneficiary lists led to temporary suspensions of activities. These incidents reflect mounting frustration driven by high needs, scarce resources and strained community relations.
Movement restrictions such as maritime restrictions around the Ibo islands, and the intensification of checkpoints created delays along key road corridors—including the R1251 and N380 in Mueda and Muidumbe, resulting in the postponement of planned missions. Active hostilities also caused temporary closures of sections of the N380, disrupting humanitarian and commercial supply chains between northern and southern Cabo Delgado.
Access constraints were further compounded by bureaucratic requirements. In Alua (Erati district, Nampula province), humanitarian distributions to IDPs who had fled violence were temporarily paused pending clearance with local authorities regarding coordination modalities, beneficiary selection processes and authorization procedures. Concurrently, authorities expressed intentions to facilitate returns to areas of origin and indicated plans to close IDP transit sites, which affected the scope and timing of humanitarian engagement with displaced communities. In this context, population intention surveys could not be implemented. In Muidumbe district, security incidents, community acceptance challenges and differing views on beneficiary selection also contributed to delays and temporary suspensions of assistance, affecting the continuity of life-saving support.
Eight cholera-related security incidents were reported in Metuge, Mecufi, Erati and Nacala, including attacks against health activists, local leaders and damage to health facilities. These incidents, rooted in mistrust and misinformation, further restricted access to health services and heightened protection risks.
Despite these constraints, humanitarian partners continued to operate where possible and engaged authorities and communities to preserve humanitarian space. However, the limited number of incidents formally reported through the Access Monitoring and Reporting Framework indicates substantial underreporting of access challenges. OCHA encourages all humanitarian partners to report to the AMRF. Reporting is confidential, supports collective advocacy, analysis of access trends and engagement with stakeholders to address operational barriers, preserve humanitarian space and enhance access for affected populations.