An Islamist group operating in Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province reportedly used boys as young as 13 in attacks on a town last week. Residents who were forced to flee the fighting recognized some of the child soldiers as their missing relatives, according to advocacy group Human Rights Watch.
The group, known as Al-Shabab and affiliated with the Islamic State, has been accused of kidnapping children and using them as soldiers in the region since 2017. Witnesses reported seeing dozens of child soldiers carrying AK-style assault rifles and ammunition belts during the recent attacks.
