Mozambique has committed to financing Rwanda’s security deployment in Cabo Delgado, ensuring that one of Africa’s most closely watched counterterrorism missions will continue despite uncertainty surrounding European Union funding.
The decision follows high-level discussions between Kigali and Maputo after the European Union signaled that it would no longer continue direct financial support for Rwanda’s military presence in northern Mozambique, a mission that has played a central role in restoring stability to the gas-rich province.
For several years, the EU contributed approximately €20 million through the European Peace Facility to support Rwandan forces operating in Cabo Delgado. However, political disagreements within the bloc have increasingly complicated the renewal of that assistance.
EU Ambassador to Mozambique Antonino Maggiore recently indicated that the bloc is reassessing its priorities and may focus more on strengthening Mozambique’s own military capabilities rather than extending direct support for Rwanda’s deployment.
The funding uncertainty prompted concern over the future of the mission, with Rwanda warning that maintaining such a large-scale security operation without reliable financial backing would become increasingly difficult.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, said the mission had delivered measurable results since its launch in 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government. According to him, security improvements have enabled displaced families to return home, schools to reopen, businesses to resume operations, and major international energy investments to restart.
Rwandan officials also argued that European financial support represented only a small portion of the overall resources Rwanda has invested in the mission. Kigali nevertheless expressed frustration that what it considers a successful regional security effort had become entangled in broader political debates.
Rather than allowing those disagreements to jeopardize operations on the ground, Rwanda and Mozambique entered direct consultations that resulted in a new bilateral arrangement. Under that understanding, Mozambique agreed to provide the financial resources necessary to keep the mission running.
The Mozambican government has since publicly confirmed its commitment. Government spokesperson Inocêncio Impissa emphasized that the presence of Rwandan forces continues to provide strategic value, not only in maintaining security but also in creating space for Mozambique’s own military to expand its training, technology, and operational capabilities.
Since arriving in July 2021, Rwandan troops and police officers have worked alongside Mozambican forces in combating insurgent groups that had destabilized Cabo Delgado since 2017. More than 6,300 Rwandan personnel have served in different rotations during the mission.
Security gains achieved over the past five years have transformed significant parts of the province. Areas once heavily affected by insurgent attacks have seen residents return, commercial activity recover, and confidence gradually restored among local communities and international investors.
Mozambique’s decision to assume responsibility for funding the mission marks a significant vote of confidence in Rwanda’s role. It also signals a strengthening partnership between the two countries at a time when international support mechanisms are becoming increasingly shaped by political considerations.
As both governments move forward with the new arrangement, officials say the priority remains unchanged: preserving stability in Cabo Delgado and preventing the resurgence of extremist violence that once threatened one of Southern Africa’s most strategic regions.
