Islamist group used child soldiers in Mozambique attacks – HRW

Human Rights Watch reported that an Islamist group in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province used boys as young as 13 in attacks on a town last week, with residents recognizing some of the child soldiers as their missing relatives. Al-Shabab, affiliated with the Islamic State group, has been accused of kidnapping children and using them as soldiers in the region since 2017. Witnesses saw child soldiers carrying assault rifles in the recent attacks on Macomia. The attacks left at least 10 people dead and forced 700 residents to flee. The conflict has displaced over a million people since 2017 and threatens a major natural gas project.