A United Nations special rapporteur has concluded that a military victory over jihadist insurgents in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado (a gas-rich northern province bordering Tanzania) is not imminent, calling instead for diplomatic and negotiated solutions to end the conflict. The report, released following a visit by UN expert Ben Saul from 4 to 14 August, found that attacks on civilians have grown in frequency and severity, with the death toll reaching 6,632 since 2017 — including nearly 2,800 civilians — and around 1.5 million people displaced. Saul warned that the current military posture, described as "offensive defence" even with the support of Rwandan forces deployed since 2021, risks allowing the Islamic State-linked armed group to regroup rather than be decisively defeated.