Mozambique: More than 600 women and girls have been abducted by jihadists in the last 3 years

The Islamists who have been operating in the north for three years Mozambique have abducted and enslaved more than 600 women and girls, according to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

“A team associated with Islamic state has abducted and held as slaves since 2018 more than 600 women and girls in the province Campo Delgado, in the north Mozambique“, Complained in a statement the human rights organization.

Some have been released by her army Mozambique and foreign forces deployed this year in the province, which has been the scene of jihadist attacks since October 2017, HRW.

These women and girls were abducted by the jihadists during their raids on towns and villages. They are forced to marry fighters and are subjected to sexual abuse or forced to work for the guerrillas, according to the NGOs.

Some were “sold” to foreign fighters for amounts ranging from $ 600 to $ 1,800, the organization added.

“An unspecified number of women and girls are still being held in Mozambique and are daily victims of sexual abuse — slavery and rape — by militants al-Shebab“, Said the Maui Segun its director HRW for Africa.

The HRW prepared this report based on interviews with abducted and released people, their families and with officials of the security services and the government of Mozambique.

From the violence that afflicts her northern Mozambique, where there are significant gas fields, at least 3,578 people have been killed, of whom 1,575 civilians, according to the organization Acled.

More than 800,000 inhabitants Mozambique have been displaced by the conflict, according to the country’s authorities and UN.

As of July more than 3,100 soldiers from Africa, the Europe and USA have been developed in Campo Delgado to support its army Mozambique.