Rwandan security forces in Mozambique’s northernmost Province of Cabo Delgado, have donated scholastic material to four schools in Palma and Mocimboa da Praia Districts where they purged terrorists from and are now engaged in a large-scale stabilization effort.

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After fully securing the two districts and helping thousands of people return to their villages and settle peacefully, Rwandan and host nation security forces had to ensure that children get back to school and people get access to much needed healthcare, among others.

By September 2022, more than 130,000 internally displaced persons returned to their villages in the two districts.

"Rwanda Security Forces in Cabo Delgado province donated scholastic materials including exercise books and pens to one thousand students of Januaro Pedro Secondary school, Trinta de Junho and Cimento primary schools of Mocimboa da Praia and Mute primary school in Palma District,” reads part of a Ministry of Defence statement on Monday, February 13.

As noted, the leader of Mocimboa da Praia municipality, Cheia Carlos Momba, and Faisal Idrice Ndemanga, the focal point of Palma district in charge of education services, appreciated the donation, noting that the materials will improve the quality of education that the children receive.

Lt Col Guillaume Rutayisire, the RSF civil military cooperation officer, highlighted that: "Although security has so far been restored, it is important to improve the livelihoods of the local population. Thus, social assistance is always needed."

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Schools in Mocimboa da Praia district had been closed since 2020 when terrorists launched successive attacks across the province.

They were reopened in January following a significant improvement in the security situation.

Palma and Mocimboa da Praia are the two districts in Cabo Delgado Province where Rwandan security forces initially operated from.

On July 9, 2021, at the request of Maputo, Kigali deployed troops to the Province of Cabo Delgado to help fight the terrorists, stabilize the area and restore state authority. Barely two weeks after landing, Rwandan and Mozambican forces were circling major bases of the terrorists, capturing them.

On August 8, 2021, the joint forces captured Mocimboa da Praia, a port city that was the headquarters of the terrorists for nearly five years. The capture of the port city dealt a heavy blow to the terrorists who had driven around 826,000 people from their homes and killed more than 2,000 others, in the Province.

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By the end of 2022, Rwanda deployed additional troops to Cabo Delgado, increasing the number of its troops there to more than 2,500. Rwanda and Mozambique had agreed to pursue the terrorists to other areas where they relocated to.