The European Union has approved €20 million (approx. Rwf22,7 billion) in assistance for the operations of the Rwandan troops in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, where they have been fighting Islamic State-linked terrorists.
The EU package adds to the ongoing assistance of €89 million for the Mozambican army in conjunction with the EU Training Mission Mozambique and €15 million for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the country (SAMIM).
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At the request of the Mozambican government, in July 2021 Rwanda deployed 1,000 military and police officers to Cabo Delgado, a coastal region with natural gas reserves. The force has since grown to over 2500 personnel.
Since 2017, terrorist attacks had killed over 4,000 civilians and displaced tens of thousands.
Vincent Biruta, Rwanda’s foreign minister, said the EU support was welcomed.
"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,” Biruta said.
He added that the support will enable Rwandan and Mozambican forces "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.”
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"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 EU said in a statement.
The support comes after President Paul Kagame said on Wednesday that the initial operations had been a success and that Rwanda and Mozambique had agreed to "pursue the terrorists where they are now.”
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Kagame said that the operations in Cabo Delgado had been fully funded by the Rwandan budget.