KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Rwanda is threatening to withdraw its counterinsurgency troops from Mozambique next month, citing a lack of “sustainable funding” and growing criticism from countries benefiting from its intervention. The potential pullout raises concerns about the future of the fight against a jihadist insurgency in the gas-rich Cabo Delgado province.
Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said Saturday that Rwandan forces are “being constantly questioned, vilified, criticized, blamed or sanctioned by the very countries … that benefit from our intervention in Mozambique.” He stated on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Rwanda “WILL withdraw” its troops if funding isn’t secured for its counter-terrorism operations.
The move comes amid escalating tensions between Rwanda and the United States. Last week, the U.S. State Department imposed visa restrictions on several senior Rwandan officials, alleging they were “fueling instability” in eastern Congo. These restrictions followed sanctions targeting Rwanda’s military, accusing them of supporting the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement signed in December.
Rwandan authorities have protested the sanctions, arguing that the DRC hasn’t faced similar consequences for alleged violations of the same agreement. President Paul Kagame has previously defended M23’s struggle as a defense of the rights of Congolese Tutsis.
The Rwandan troops were first deployed to Mozambique in July 2021, at the invitation of the Mozambican government, to combat an insurgency linked to the Islamic State group. The insurgency gained notoriety after a 12-day attack on the coastal town of Palma in 2021, resulting in dozens of deaths and the suspension of a $20 billion liquified natural gas project by TotalEnergies. The project is crucial for Mozambique’s economic development.
According to government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo, the cost of the deployment is at least ten times the roughly 20 million euros ($23 million) disbursed by the European Peace Facility. She added that European Union funding for the Rwandan deployment is set to expire in May, responding to a Bloomberg report. Makolo stated that if the work of Rwandan forces in Cabo Delgado isn’t appreciated, the government would be justified in ending the counter-terrorism arrangement and withdrawing its troops.
The potential withdrawal of Rwandan forces could significantly impact Mozambique’s ability to contain the insurgency and protect its vital gas reserves. The situation underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region and the challenges of securing long-term stability through international partnerships.