The European Union has pledged an additional €20 million (about 28 billion Rwandan francs) to support the operations of Rwanda’s security forces in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, a region plagued by terrorism.
The new funding, announced on November 18, supplements a previous €20 million package provided in December 2022 to assist Rwandan troops deployed in northern Mozambique to combat an Islamic State-linked insurgency.
Rwanda sent troops to Cabo Delgado in July 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government after the province was destabilized by militant attacks.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said in a statement that the Rwandan Defence Force has been crucial in stabilizing the region, particularly following the recent withdrawal of the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).
“This top-up measure demonstrates the EU’s support for ‘African solutions to African problems,’” Borrell said. “It also supports the global fight against terrorism, which aligns with EU interests in the region.”
The additional funds, provided through the European Peace Facility, will cover expenses for personal equipment and strategic airlift needed to sustain the Rwandan forces’ deployment. This new support complements the EU’s previous €89 million commitment to assist Mozambique’s military, including training provided by the EU Training Mission in Mozambique.
Rwandan troops, operating alongside Mozambican forces, have played a vital role in stabilizing Cabo Delgado, an area rich in natural gas that has been under siege by Islamist insurgents since 2017. The conflict has resulted in over 4,000 deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Recent joint operations by Rwandan and Mozambican forces have extended into neighboring Nampula province, targeting insurgent strongholds.
