Rwanda-Mozambique Alliance Secures Cabo Delgado Mission as Kigali Rejects Political Pressure Over Anti-Terror Operations
Rwanda and Mozambique have reinforced their strategic security partnership after Mozambique agreed to fully finance the continued deployment of Rwandan troops in Cabo Delgado, following growing political disagreements between Rwanda and the European Union over support for the counter-terrorism mission.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, who revealed that Rwanda decided to engage directly with the Government of Mozambique after observing what it described as the politicization of the mission by the European Union.
For years, the European Union had provided financial assistance worth €20 million to support Rwanda’s military operations in Cabo Delgado through the European Peace Facility. However, divisions reportedly emerged within the bloc over the continuation of that support, with some European countries questioning the future of the mission.
The EU Ambassador to Mozambique, Antonino Maggiore, recently indicated that the bloc was considering shifting its focus toward training Mozambique’s national army rather than continuing direct support to Rwanda’s deployment.
Speaking on the matter, Minister Nduhungirehe stressed that Rwanda’s intervention in Cabo Delgado has delivered tangible and transformative results since the deployment began in July 2021 at the invitation of the Mozambican government.
He highlighted that security and stability have significantly improved in the region, allowing displaced families to return home, children to resume school, businesses to reopen, and economic activity to recover. He further noted that Mozambican security forces have continued to receive professional training from Rwanda, while major international investments, including multi-billion-dollar gas projects involving American and European companies, have resumed operations in a more secure environment.
According to the minister, the financial support previously provided by the EU represented only a small fraction of Rwanda’s overall operational costs in Mozambique and was also minimal compared to the scale of international economic interests protected by the mission in Cabo Delgado.
Despite the achievements registered on the ground, Rwanda expressed concern that certain European countries had increasingly turned the mission into a political tool, undermining Rwanda’s contribution to regional stability while continuing to benefit economically from the restored security in the gas-rich province.
Minister Nduhungirehe criticized what he described as repeated hesitation and political pressure surrounding Rwanda’s requests for continued support, arguing that the assistance provided by Rwanda to the people of Mozambique should not be used as leverage for political criticism.
Following consultations between Kigali and Maputo, Mozambique agreed to assume responsibility for financing the Rwandan security deployment to ensure that counter-terrorism operations continue uninterrupted.
The development signals a deepening of bilateral trust and cooperation between Rwanda and Mozambique, with both governments reaffirming their commitment to preserving peace and stability in Cabo Delgado.
Before the new agreement was reached, Rwanda had warned that it could reconsider the future of its deployment if sustainable support mechanisms were not secured. Kigali had also emphasized that its forces could not continue operating effectively while facing constant political attacks, sanctions, and external pressure.
Rwandan troops were first deployed to Cabo Delgado in July 2021 after Mozambique requested urgent assistance to combat terrorist groups that had destabilized the northern province since 2017. Since then, the mission has been widely credited with helping restore territorial control, improving civilian security, and reviving economic confidence in one of Africa’s most strategic energy regions.
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