President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation on March 23 with President Daniel Chapo, on the possibility of Mozambique supplying natural gas to Ukraine, as well as avenues for cooperation in addressing security challenges.
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is seeking to diversify its energy sources amid ongoing disruptions caused by the war.
His Mozambican counterpart assured him that his country is working to position itself as a major exporter of liquefied natural gas.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine is indeed interested in securing additional energy supplies.
Sources told Taarifa that Mozambique is also looking to benefit from Ukraine’s experience and technologies in strengthening internal security and protecting civilians from terrorism.
Mozambique has faced a persistent insurgency in its northern Cabo Delgado region since 2017, a conflict that has killed more than 6,500 people and displaced over one million.
The discussion also covered potential collaboration in digital transformation and food security, with both sides agreeing to advance talks at the technical level.
Although Rwanda was not a participant in the call, its role in the broader regional context is significant.
Rwanda deployed forces to Cabo Delgado in July 2021, at a time when insurgents had seized key areas including the town of Palma, forcing the suspension of one of Africa’s largest energy investments.
Rwanda currently maintains approximately 5,000 troops in northern Mozambique, helping to stabilize key districts, protect civilians and secure strategic gas infrastructure.
That security presence has been central to the revival of the Mozambique LNG project, a US$20 billion investment led by TotalEnergies, one of the largest private energy projects on the continent.
Work on the project was suspended in 2021 following the Palma attack and is expected to resume with production targeted later in the decade.
The wider Rovuma Basin gas developments are estimated to hold more than 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and could generate tens of billions of dollars in revenue over coming decades, underscoring their global significance.
The European Union has previously acknowledged the scale of the Cabo Delgado crisis, describing it as one of the most severe security and humanitarian challenges in the region, while also supporting stabilization efforts through funding and training missions for Mozambican forces.
EU understands both the importance of restoring security and the protection of civilians, alongside the safeguarding of critical energy investments, and has been funding a portion of Rwanda’s operations even though it announced possibilities of stopping the support.
Despite the contributions, Rwanda’s intervention has recent times met with limited recognition and external pressure, even as it helped reverse a deteriorating security situation and enabled the return of multibillion dollar investments critical not only to Mozambique’s economy but also to global energy markets.
Rwanda’s involvement has effectively created the security conditions necessary for Mozambique to pursue its ambitions as a reliable energy supplier.
In turn, this stability enhances the feasibility of partnerships such as the one under discussion with Ukraine.
Kigali has in recent times emerged as an increasingly influential diplomatic and economic hub in Africa, positioning itself as a bridge between regional security efforts and global economic interests.
Nevertheless, the Ukraine Mozambique dialogue illustrates a broader shift in international relations, with African countries taking on more prominent roles in global energy markets and conflict affected states seeking new partnerships beyond traditional allies.
Within this evolving landscape, Rwanda’s contribution to regional stability remains a central, if sometimes underappreciated, factor in enabling both economic cooperation and international diplomacy.
