The European Union has adopted a €20 million support package (about Rwf28 billion) to the operations of Rwanda Security Forces in Mozambique's province of Cabo Delgado.
Announced on Monday, November 18, the package is a top-up to another €20 million announced in December 2022 in assistance to the Rwandan troops deployed in the Southern African country's nothern province, which had been destabilised by terrorism.
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Rwanda deployed troops to Cabo Delgado in July 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government to fight an Islamic State-linked insurgency.
"The presence of the Rwanda Defence Force troops has been instrumental to make progress and remains key, especially given the recent withdrawal of the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM),” EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, was quoted as saying in a statement on Monday.
"This top-up measure is a testimony of the EU’s support to ‘African solutions for African problems’ and, as part of the global fight against terrorism, it will also serve EU interests in the region.”
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The additional funds, provided under the European Peace Facility, will cover costs related to personal equipment and strategic airlift necessary to maintain the Rwandan forces’ deployment in Cabo Delgado, the EU Council said in the statement. This support complements the EU’s €89 million assistance for the Mozambican Armed Forces, previously trained by the EU Training Mission in Mozambique.
Rwandan troops, deployed alongside Mozambican forces, have been key in stabilizing Cabo Delgado’s terrorist-hit districts of Cabo Delgado.
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Located on the coast of the Indian Ocean, Cabo Delgado is rich in natural gas. The Mozambican nothernmost province faced the Islamist insurgency since 2017, leading to the death of over 4,000 people and the displacement of hundreds of thousands.
Joint operations by Rwandan troops and the Mozambican armed forces recently expanded to neighboring Nampula province to target insurgent strongholds.