Rwanda wants “to further strengthen” cooperation with Mozambique – Kagame

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Rwanda wants “to further strengthen” cooperation with Mozambique – Kagame

3:41 CAT | 26 Jan 2024

Photo: @UrugwiroVillage/X

The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, said on Thursday evening after meeting his Mozambican counterpart Filipe Nyusi, that he wants to “further strengthen” cooperation with Mozambique.

According to information from the Presidency of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi’s hours-long “working visit” to Kigali took place at the invitation of his Rwandan counterpart, to “address issues of bilateral cooperation”.

Since July 2021, Rwanda has an autonomous military force deployed in Cabo Delgado, combating terrorist groups operating in northern Mozambique, operating together with the Mozambican Armed Forces. They were joined in these military operations by the countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), through the SAMIM mission, which is expected to leave the theatre later this year.

Without providing further details of the meeting, Kagame said only that he discussed “ways to further strengthen the existing productive bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest” with the Mozambican president.

The current contingent of Rwandan forces arrived in Mozambique last August, under the usual rotation, and is led by Major General Alexis Kagame. It is part of a force of more than 2,000 Rwandan soldiers.

Speaking in Maputo at the opening of the XXIV Coordinating Council of the Ministry of National Defence on 22 November of last yearm, President Nyusi asked for “decisions” on the response capacity of the Armed Forces in Cabo Delgado, particularly with reservists, taking into account the planned withdrawal of foreign forces combating terrorist groups on the ground.

“Concrete decisions on the response capacity of the Armed Forces in relation to their action in the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado in the period after the withdrawal of friendly forces from SAMIM and Rwanda [are required,” he said.
“To this end, your reflection must also evaluate how to best capitalize on the pool of reservists, engaging them directly or indirectly in various missions in favor of defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. And the current reality justifies it,” Nyusi added, giving as an example the former fighters of the liberation struggle, who “are still useful, even after 40 years”.

In the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado, Nyusi highlighted the importance of “calling on citizens” and society in general to “actively participate in the national defence effort”.

Last August, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit approved the extension of the mission in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, for 12 months, until July 2024.
Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique has been facing an armed insurgency for six years, with some attacks claimed by the extremist Islamic State group.

The insurgency has led to a military response since July 2021, with support from Rwanda and SADC, liberating districts near gas projects, but new waves of attacks have emerged in the south of the region and in neighbouring Nampula province.

The conflict has already displaced one million people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and caused around 4,000 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project.

Last evening in Kigali, President Kagame received President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique for a discussion on ways to further strengthen the existing productive bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. pic.twitter.com/OWpdFfYI9v

— Presidency | Rwanda (@UrugwiroVillage) January 26, 2024