Rwanda has formalized an exclusive bilateral security arrangement with the Government of Mozambique to sustain its military presence in the conflict-torn northern province of Cabo Delgado, Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe announced this week during a diplomatic briefing in Kigali.
Addressing members of the diplomatic corps on Rwanda’s latest diplomatic developments and the evolving dynamics in the Great Lakes region, Minister Nduhungirehe confirmed that Kigali had decided this year to work solely with the Mozambican government as its partner for the mission.
Mozambique has secured and will continue to provide the necessary funding for Rwandan security forces operating in the insurgency-plagued northern province.
“Collaboration between the two governments has been successful so far and will continue to remain so in the future,” the Minister stated.
The announcement marks a significant shift in how the mission is financed and governed, following months of uncertainty surrounding European Union funding, and solidifies a pragmatic, sovereign-to-sovereign security arrangement.
Rwanda first deployed troops to Mozambique in July 2021 at Maputo’s request to combat an Islamic State-linked insurgency that had destabilized Cabo Delgado since 2017.
The region, rich in natural gas reserves, saw significant territorial gains by insurgents until Rwandan forces, working alongside Mozambican troops, helped reclaim key areas including parts of Palma and Mocímboa da Praia.
The diplomatic announcement came just days after a high-profile show of solidarity on the ground. Mozambique’s Defence Minister, Cristóvão Artur Chume, paid a courtesy visit to the Rwanda Security Force in Mocímboa da Praia, where he was briefed by the Joint Task Force Commander, Brigadier General CM Mujuni, on the prevailing security situation and the status of ongoing operations across Cabo Delgado Province.
Minister Chume expressed his appreciation to the Rwanda Security Force for its critical contribution to combating terrorism in northern Mozambique and emphasized the Mozambican Government’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding friendship and bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
The bilateral framework was formalized in part by a 2025 Status of Forces Agreement, with Mozambique now assuming full financial ownership of the mission.
Analysts view the arrangement as a model of African-led security cooperation, reducing dependence on external multilateral funding while preserving operational continuity.
Minister Nduhungirehe’s briefing to the diplomatic corps underscored Rwanda’s broader commitment to regional stability, with the Cabo Delgado mission remaining a cornerstone of its foreign and security policy engagement in Southern Africa.
