The European Union (EU) said on Friday (22) that it has not received any formal request from the Rwandan authorities to extend financial support for the Rwandan security forces deployed in Cabo Delgado, a programme that is set to end this month.
According to Lusa, citing the European Commission, “the current agreement under the European Peace Facility will end in May 2026. The EU has not received any formal request for additional assistance from the Rwandan authorities,” the official position states.
The clarification comes a few days after the Government of Rwanda announced that it will maintain its military deployment in northern Mozambique to support efforts against armed groups operating in Cabo Delgado, although it expressed dissatisfaction with the European position regarding funding for the mission.
Still according to Brussels, the Rwandan military presence continues to be considered relevant to stabilisation efforts in the province. “The European Union recognises the very important contribution of Rwanda to efforts aimed at stabilising the security situation in Cabo Delgado. The EU also notes that the presence of the Rwandan Defence Forces has been valued by the Mozambican authorities,” the source added.
The current European support mechanism provided for total disbursements of around USD 40 million to support the logistics of the Rwandan operation, including non-lethal equipment and coverage of troop transport costs. The Rwandan deployment has supported Mozambique’s Defence Armed Forces since 2021 in combating armed groups operating in Cabo Delgado, a province that hosts some of Africa’s largest liquefied natural gas projects and has faced an armed insurgency since 2017.
The EU announcement follows public criticism from Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, who accused some European Union member states of politicising requests to continue financial support. According to Kigali, requests for an extension of funding have been met with reservations by some European partners, currently forcing Mozambique to assume the financial costs associated with the presence of Rwandan forces.
According to data released by the Government of Rwanda, the contingent deployed in Cabo Delgado now exceeds 6,300 soldiers, a significant increase compared to the initial deployment in 2021.
Source: Diário Económico
