African Christian leaders have urged the Republic of Mozambique to conduct a full investigation into the killing of a Mozambican bishop this month.
Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of the Diocese of Quelimane was attacked by armed assailants at his home in the city of Quelimane, eastern Mozambique on June 6, 2026.
The Mozambique’s National Criminal Investigation Service, has stated that the attackers reportedly entered the property by scaling the perimeter wall and de-activating the property’s security system.
Investigators said the bishop was allegedly shot in the chest inside a corridor of his residence. Reports also indicated the assailants used AK-M assault rifles during the attack.
Bishop Afonso was ordained to the priesthood in 2002, and would later serve in the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelisation, working in the Section for First Evangelisation and the New Particular Churches.
According to reports from Aid to Christians in Need (ACN), authorities have not identified his attackers or determined a motive for the attack. In a statement, the Mozambican government was urged to carry out an immediate investigation into the crime.
“We call upon the government of the Republic of Mozambique and all relevant authorities to launch an immediate, thorough, and transparent investigation. It is imperative to identify those responsible, whether they are direct perpetrators, accomplices, or instigators, and to ensure they are brought to justice without delay.”
It also described it as a “heinous act, committed against a pastor of God’s people.”
It also stated that it is “not only an attack on the life and dignity of a devout servant of the Gospel, but also an assault on the fundamental values of peace, justice, human dignity, and religious freedom – essential principles for the well-being and development of any society.”
“We vehemently and unreservedly condemn this barbaric crime. No religious leader, regardless of their faith or denomination, should be a target of violence.”
The group also stressed the importance of Religious freedom as a human right and a significant feature of democratic and peaceful societies.
“The people of Mozambique, the Catholic Church, and the International Community deserve the truth,” the group stated.
In 2023, Bishop Osório Citora Afonso was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Maputo. He also became the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Beira, earlier this year
Practicing Christianity in Mozambique is not always without risks to one’s life. Open Doors’ The World Watch List, reveals that persecution for Christians continues to worsen. Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado, located in the county’s northern region, is described as the epicentre of violence against Christians. Christians are mostly attacked by Islamic extremists, including some affiliated with the Islamic State group. It also revealed that military officers have contributed to the persecution. Militants have explicitly attacked Christian communities – burning churches, destroying homes and killing civilians.
“Some converts from Islam in the northern part of Mozambique keep their faith a secret due to the risk of abduction or execution, and potential rejection from their families and communities.” The organization documented that, “Christians in the southern region experience less pressure for their faith, but believers everywhere can face opposition if they speak out against government policies.”