The rise of extremism in the north of the country has had a devastating impact on the lives of believers. Churches have been burned down, pastors abducted and many killed. The objective of these groups is to establish a strict Islamic state, and Christians are often targeted as symbols of resistance to this extremist ideology.  

Mozambique has also become a major hub for drug trafficking, contributing to a climate of lawlessness and violence, which indirectly affects the Christian community. Church youth workers are particularly at risk, as they are often seen as threats to the cartels for speaking out and for seeking to protect potential ‘recruits’. 

Converts are vulnerable to persecution from their families. This can include divorce, forced marriage, loss of custody of children and disinheritance. In the eastern Muslim-majority regions, Christian women and girls are required to comply with the Islamic dress code in all Muslim schools and communal areas.