SUMMARY

As Islamic State (IS) spread uncontrollably into southern and western Cabo Delgado during 2022, the local populations faith in the governments ability to protect them plummeted (for more information on the state-based conflict, see Mozambique: Islamic State). As a response, local self-defense forces emerged outside of government control. The most prominent militia to emerge outside of government control was the the Naparama movement. It emerged in November 2022, as the Namuno, Balama, and Montepuez districts came under attack from IS.

The Naparama takes its inspiration from a movement of the same name that was active in the 1990s, during the conflict with Renamo. It is unified in its rituals of "vaccination", in which its members drink magic potions provided by designated shamans, which is said to make its members immune to bullets. Its fighters generally eschew firearms in favor of traditional weapons such as bows and spears.

Naparama fought IS repeatedly at the end of 2022 and early 2023, and the movement rapidly grew in popularity, with locals travelling to centers for "vaccination" rituals from several more districts in Cabo Delgado. The spread of the Naparama movement to Ancuabe and Chiure districta resulted in repeated clashes with IS throughout 2024 and 2025.

Members of Naparama have reportedly been repeatedly involved in extrajudicial executions of people suspected of being members of IS. During 2024, relations between the Naparamas and the Government of Mozambique deteriorated badly, especially as many Naparamas supported the opposition presidential candidate, Venâncio Mondlane, whose supporters faced a brutal crackdown from the government during the 2024 protests against electoral fraud (see Government of Mozambique - Civilians). These deteriorating relations resulted in the eruption of a conflict over government in 2025.