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Maputo, Mozambique – 20 June 2025 – As forced displacement reaches unprecedented levels worldwide, Mozambique continues to stand out for its commitment to solidarity and support for refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs), in line with the principles of the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention and the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention, both ratified by the Government of Mozambique in 1988.
According to UNHCR’s 2024 Global Trends Report, “the number of people forced to flee persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing public order rose in 2024, reaching a record 123.2 million.” Over the past ten years, “the number of forcibly displaced people has almost doubled.” Africa hosts a significant share of this population, with “low- and middle-income countries host[ing] 73 per cent of the world’s refugees and other people in need of international protection.”
On World Refugee Day, marked on 20 June, the Government of Mozambique, UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency – and partners celebrate the contributions and resilience of refugees and IDPs across the country.
In Cabo Delgado, celebrations begin with a friendly football match bringing together refugees, IDPs, and host community members – a gesture of solidarity and unity. On 20 June, a local fair will showcase refugee-led businesses, services, cuisine, music, and handicrafts, demonstrating how inclusion works in practice.
In Maputo and Tete, refugees locally integrated into host communities will be visited to highlight their resilience and contributions through income-generating activities.
At Maratane Refugee Centre in Nampula Province, activities include a symbolic “Solidarity Walk with Refugees,” community theatre, and cultural performances. Refugee- and youth-led initiatives will mark the day with exhibitions of local products and services that showcase the power of community-driven development.
“These activities are not just symbolic. They reflect the everyday solidarity lived in Mozambique,” said Xavier Creach, UNHCR Representative in Mozambique. “Mozambique is setting an example for inclusion, even as global support weakens.”
Mozambique currently hosts around 25,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, and Somalia. At the same time, more than 1.3 million Mozambicans have been internally displaced due to conflict in the north and extreme weather events. Many face ongoing challenges, including lack of civil documentation and limited access to housing, land, and property.
Niyonzima Magnifique, a refugee from Burundi, arrived in Mozambique 25 years ago while pregnant with her first child. Today, a mother of three, she lives in the south of the country and dreams of one day becoming a Mozambican citizen – a reflection of the friendships, safety, and sense of belonging she has built. “We didn’t speak Portuguese and we weren’t used to the food. It was difficult,” she recalls of her first days in the Bobole resettlement area. But after the centre closed, she and others relocated to urban areas and began integrating more fully into Mozambican life. “Now I just want to belong,” she says. “This is my home.”
Another inspiring story is that of Ancila Niyubuntu, who fled to Mozambique as a child and later studied in Maratane. After completing her education, she chose to stay and now works as a mental health and psychosocial support counsellor for displaced women. Ancila helps others cope with trauma and regain confidence – showing that displacement does not define one’s future.
As part of Mozambique’s pledges at the Global Refugee Forum, the Government – through the National Institute for Refugee Support (INAR), UNHCR, and partners – remains committed to promoting durable solutions for refugees, including voluntary repatriation, resettlement to third countries, and local integration with access to national services. Refugees in Mozambique, including those living in Maratane, have access to public health, education, and protection services, as well as opportunities to engage in income-generating activities. Efforts are ongoing to strengthen the national asylum system to make it more efficient and adapted to current mixed movement dynamics, ensuring legal protection and identity.
In northern Mozambique, the government and UNHCR continue to strengthen protection responses for IDPs in close collaboration with the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) and local authorities, in line with the Government’s Five-Year Action Plan on Internal Displacement (PEGDI).
The Government of Mozambique, in coordination with UNHCR, has undertaken activities to strengthen collaboration with humanitarian and development partners, aiming to expand access to civil documentation, legal assistance, and land — all essential elements to restore rights, ensure access to services, and support durable solutions. These efforts also include continued support for strengthening community structures, expanding livelihood opportunities for vulnerable individuals, and ensuring timely and appropriate care for survivors of gender-based violence, persons with disabilities, and older people.
This also includes ongoing support to community structures, expanded livelihood opportunities for vulnerable groups, and provision of timely and adequate care for survivors of gender-based violence, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
“At a time when needs are rising and resources are shrinking, Mozambique continues to lead by example,” said Xavier Creach. “This World Refugee Day is not just a celebration. It is a call to renew our commitment – to solutions, to support, and to solidarity with those forced to flee.”
For media enquiries, please contact:
In Pemba, Isadora Zoni, schulerz@unhcr.org, +258 84 430 1425