A historic Catholic church in northern Mozambique has been destroyed in an attack blamed on extremists linked to Islamic State, in the latest sign of the continuing fragility of Christian life in Cabo Delgado. The church of St Louis de Montfort in Meza was attacked on April 30, according to reports by Aid to the Church in Need.
The assault is said to have destroyed the church itself, along with parish offices and the residence used by the Piarist missionaries serving the community. A church-run kindergarten was also vandalised. Bishop António Juliasse Ferreira Sandramo of Pemba described the aftermath as “a scene of terror”, saying homes and infrastructure had been destroyed and that civilians were forced to watch and listen to speeches of hatred.
