The European Union (EU) Council has approved €20 million (over Rwf20 billion) funding to support the continued deployment of Rwandan troops to fight terrorists in Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique.

As per statement released by the EU Council, the assistance measure adopted today under the European Peace Facility (EPF), adds to the ongoing assistance of EUR 89 million for the Mozambican Armed Forces in conjunction with the EU Training Mission (EUTM) Mozambique and EUR 15 million for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).

The EPF was created in 2021 to support partners around the world in the areas of military and defence, and with the ultimate aim of preventing conflict, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability.

The assistance measure will enable the acquisition of collective and personal equipment, and cover costs related to the strategic airlift needed to sustain the Rwandan deployment in Cabo Delgado.

The funding to Rwanda’s intervention in Mozambique is part of assistance measures adopted by the council in support of the armed forces of five countries.

These include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Lebanon, Mauritania and Rwanda.

Commenting on the support, Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said: “The European Peace Facility continues to show its flexibility and effectiveness in responding to our partners’ needs. Today, we have adopted five new assistance measures to support Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Lebanon, Mauritania and the Rwandan deployment to Mozambique.

The Government of Rwanda has through a statement released today welcomed the support of European Peace Facility to joint operations in Cabo Delgado and reiterated continued commitment to work with partners to fight terrorism.

“Rwanda greatly appreciates the support announced today by the European Council of €20 million from the European Peace Facility to ensure that Rwandan troops working alongside Mozambican forces continue to have the equipment and logistics required to fight armed terrorists in Cabo Delgado, restore peace and security, enable the safe return of displaced residents to their homes. Rwanda remains a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism on the continent and we are pleased to collaborate with the European Union in this work,” said Dr. Vincent Biruta, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Rwanda deployed army and police personnel to Cabo Delgado in July 2021 at the request of the Government of Mozambique, and currently has around 2,500 troops engaged in joint operations with Mozambican forces. Additional troops are being deployed in areas that have experienced new terrorist attacks.

The Rwandan contingent has so far been fully funded by the Government of Rwanda.

Since last year, the joint force has dislodged insurgents from their strongholds, allowing civilians to return to their homes, and also collaborated with SADC’s SAMIM force to pursue terrorists in other sectors.

These new assistance measures increase the EU’s ongoing support to partner countries in Africa, the Eastern Partnership, and the Western Balkans, and expands the European Peace Facility’s geographical outreach to the Southern Neighbourhood.

AE News