A group of armed men stormed the residence of the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Pemba, northern Mozambique, on the night of June 8, 2025, in a shocking act of violence that left the religious community and the girls under their care deeply traumatized.
The convent, which also functions as a home for around 30 girls, was attacked by a gang of approximately 18 men armed with guns, machetes, and iron bars. The assailants broke through the building’s doors and windows and forced the sisters and the children into the chapel at gunpoint, demanding money, valuables, and mobile phones.
During the ordeal, Sister Esperanza was forced to kneel alone in the chapel while one of the attackers raised a machete to her neck, threatening to decapitate her. The other sisters, pleading for her life, managed to de-escalate the situation. Despite the terror inflicted, none of the sisters or the girls were physically harmed.
The attackers looted the facility, stealing computers, cash, and other electronic devices. This marks the first time the Mercedarian Sisters have experienced such a violent incident since their arrival in Mozambique 17 years ago.
The attack occurred amid ongoing instability in Cabo Delgado province, where violence linked to a jihadist insurgency has been escalating since 2017. While the assailants in this incident were not identified as extremists, church officials noted that organized criminal groups have taken advantage of the region's fragile security environment.
Just days before the incident, the La Salette Fathers in the nearby town of Mieze were similarly targeted in a machete robbery, suggesting a broader trend of increasing attacks against religious institutions.
In the aftermath, the Mercedarian Sisters, with the support of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) and the Diocese of Pemba, launched an urgent appeal for funds to improve security at their facility. They plan to install surveillance cameras and reinforce over 70 windows throughout their convent, chapel, guesthouse, and children's residence.
Sister Aparecida Ramos Queiroz, project liaison for ACN in Pemba, emphasized the urgent need for increased protection for religious communities. She noted that local police and military forces are either overwhelmed or incapable of responding adequately to such threats.
The sisters, while shaken, remain committed to their mission of caring for vulnerable girls in the region. The incident has highlighted the increasing risks faced by missionaries and the urgent need for international support to ensure their safety in conflict-prone areas.