Rwanda has warned it may pull its forces from Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province unless international partners provide “adequate and predictable” funding and recognition for its role in stabilising the region.
Rwandan troops were first deployed to northern Mozambique in 2021 under a bilateral defence pact, after Islamist insurgents linked to al-Shabaab disrupted life in Cabo Delgado and forced French energy giant TotalEnergies to suspend construction of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility.
The insurgency, which began in 2017, displaced thousands and halted one of Africa’s largest energy investments.
Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said Rwanda Defence Force (RDF)’s continued military presence depends on reliable funding, noting that Kigali has borne costs far exceeding the €20 million provided by the European Union.
“Should the RDF command assess that the work being done by Rwandan security forces in Cabo Delgado is not appreciated, they would be right to urge the government to end this bilateral counter-terrorism arrangement and pull out,” Makolo wrote on X.
Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe added that Rwanda had “invested heavily and lost soldiers” to secure Palma and Moçimboa da Praia, key districts near the LNG site, and would not tolerate being “vilified or sanctioned” by countries benefiting from its intervention.
“We didn’t pay hundreds of millions of dollars and our RDF soldiers didn’t pay the ultimate sacrifice to stabilise this region…, just to see our valiant soldiers being constantly questioned, vilified, criticised, blamed or sanctioned by the very countries that greatly benefit from our intervention in Mozambique,” the minister also wrote on X.
“Indeed, we are ready to leave Mozambique if our work and achievements are not appreciated.”
The remarks followed US sanctions earlier this month against the Rwandan armed forces and senior officials, citing alleged support for the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo – charges Rwanda denies.
Kigali’s warnings also come as EU support through the European Peace Facility is set to expire in May.
Mozambican President Daniel Chapo was in Belgium this week where he managed to secure an additional €20 million from the EU, part of which is expected to go towards the fight against the insurgents in Cabo Delgado and the rest towards humanitarian support for flood victims in other provinces.
Rwanda’s withdrawal would risk undoing fragile stability in Cabo Delgado where joint operations with Mozambican forces enabled displaced families to return and businesses to reopen.
In January, TotalEnergies and the Mozambican government agreed to restart construction of the multibillion-dollar LNG project, a decision made possible by improved security.
That progress now hangs in the balance as Rwanda signals it will not continue its mission without greater international backing.
JN/APA