The ongoing extreme violence by insurgents in certain districts of northern Mozambique's Cabo Delgado Province since 2017 has resulted in the closure of eight district offices of the Institute for Legal Aid (IPAJ). The attacks have triggered significant displacement, leading to the shutdown of institutions due to safety concerns. Estimating the number of individuals deprived of legal aid in Cabo Delgado is challenging due to the high mobility of affected families. Terrorism in the region has caused approximately 4,000 deaths and displaced a million people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Since 2021, Mozambican military forces, supported by Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Military Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), have been engaged in operations to expel terrorists from occupied regions. To address the absence of physical IPAJ locations, mobile legal assistance is now provided, with public defenders traveling to communities to set up tents for assistance. Additionally, mobile trial sessions have been conducted in communities as part of a partnership between the Supreme Court and IPAJ.
Mozambique: Insurgency forces closure of eight legal aid offices in north Mozambique
Location:
cabo delgado, Mozambique, Southern Africa
Incident Date:
February 8, 2024
Instability Rating Max 5.0:
3.00
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