The European Commission today said it is in “continuous dialogue” with Mozambique to define possible support in terms of “security measures” in Cabo Delgado, but stressed that decisions on the Rwandan deployment should be made between the two countries directly.
“We are in continuous dialogue on the options to see how the European Union can best support Mozambique in terms of development, humanitarian action and peacebuilding, as well as security measures,” said European Commission foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni at the institution’s daily press conference.
The spokesman had been asked whether the Commission has any plans to renew EU support for the Rwandan forces fighting terrorism in Cabo Delgado — support that expires in May. El Anouni acknowledged the “very important contribution made by Rwanda in efforts to bring the situation in the region under control,” noting that Mozambican authorities have also valued the Rwandan forces’ presence.
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However, he said it is for Mozambique and Rwanda to “identify the appropriate way to move forward with this specific action,” noting the two countries had concluded a bilateral agreement on the Rwandan deployment.
El Anouni also summarised EU measures on the Cabo Delgado conflict, recalling that the bloc organised a military training mission — which subsequently became a military assistance mission — and mobilised financial support for Mozambican armed forces and Rwandan defence forces operating in the field.
On Sunday, Rwanda’s foreign minister Olivier Nduhungirehe warned that the Rwandan deployment fighting terrorism in Cabo Delgado would leave northern Mozambique if there were no guarantees of “sustainable financing” for the operation.
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The warning comes as EU financial support — totalling €40 million over 36 months — approaches its May expiry, and as the United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Defence Forces over the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, complicating the situation for the TotalEnergies-led LNG megaproject in Cabo Delgado.
An official source from the EU delegation in Mozambique told Lusa there are no negotiations for the continuation of EU support to the Rwandan forces. The Mozambican government expressed “concern” and “shock” on Friday at the end of this support, saying it is seeking alternatives and that the US sanctions do not affect Rwanda’s operation in Cabo Delgado.
The current support of €20 million — agreed in November 2024, following an identical previous package of equal value in 2022 — covered personal equipment and strategic air transport over a total 36-month assistance period now coming to an end.
