Rwanda said Mozambique has secured funding for the continued deployment of Rwandan troops in the insurgency-hit Cabo Delgado province, easing concerns over the future of a mission credited with helping stabilise the gas-rich region.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said on Tuesday that Kigali would now deal directly with the Mozambican government over financing arrangements for its military presence in the northern province.
“This year, Rwanda decided to deal exclusively with the Government of Mozambique, which, in its turn, has secured and will continue to secure the necessary funding for the Rwandan security forces in Cabo Delgado,” Nduhungirehe wrote on social media platform X.
He did not disclose the amount of funding secured or specify how long the financing would cover the deployment.
Mozambique’s government did not immediately comment on the announcement.
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Rwanda first deployed troops to Mozambique in 2021 at the request of Maputo to help combat an insurgency linked to the Islamic State group that had swept through parts of Cabo Delgado province.
The insurgency, which began in 2017, has killed thousands of people and displaced many more, while disrupting major energy investments in one of Africa’s largest natural gas discoveries.
Before Rwanda’s intervention, Islamist fighters had captured strategic towns including Palma, near the site of a major liquefied natural gas project led by French energy giant.
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The deployment of Rwandan troops, alongside forces from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), helped Mozambican authorities retake several key areas and improve security conditions in parts of the province.
The improved security environment enabled earlier this year to restart work on its suspended $20 billion LNG project, considered crucial to Mozambique’s long-term economic ambitions.
However, analysts and security researchers monitoring the conflict say insurgent attacks have continued in remote areas despite the gains made by regional and Rwandan forces.
Questions over the financing of Rwanda’s deployment emerged earlier this year after reports indicated the European Union was reluctant to continue funding the mission.
The EU had provided financial support for the Rwandan force through the European Peace Facility, a mechanism designed to assist military and security operations abroad.
In March, Rwanda warned it could withdraw its troops if alternative funding arrangements were not secured.
At the time, Kigali signalled frustration over uncertainty surrounding future international support for the mission.
The terms governing Rwanda’s military cooperation agreement with Mozambique have never been made public, including details on troop numbers, operational costs or burden-sharing arrangements.
Rwanda’s military deployments in Africa have become an increasingly important element of the country’s foreign policy, with Kigali positioning itself as a reliable security partner on the continent.
Rwandan troops have also been deployed in the Central African Republic and other conflict zones under bilateral or multilateral arrangements.
For Mozambique, maintaining security in Cabo Delgado remains critical not only for protecting civilians but also for safeguarding foreign investment tied to its vast offshore gas reserves.
The LNG developments in northern Mozambique are expected to transform the southern African nation into a major global exporter of natural gas over the coming decades.
But repeated insurgent attacks and instability have raised concerns among investors over the long-term viability of the projects.
Analysts say sustained military pressure, alongside economic development and humanitarian support, will be necessary to prevent militants from regaining territory or exploiting local grievances.
The insurgency has been fuelled partly by poverty, unemployment and perceptions of exclusion in a region rich in natural resources but with limited economic opportunities for local communities.
While the announcement from Rwanda suggests the immediate future of the deployment has been secured, uncertainty remains over the long-term financing and political strategy underpinning the mission.
Observers say transparency around funding arrangements and coordination among regional partners will be key to sustaining security gains in Cabo Delgado.
