Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, has criticized what he described as growing pressure and lack of recognition toward Rwanda’s peacekeeping forces deployed across Africa.
Speaking in a recent interview with Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), Nduhungirehe said Rwanda’s military and police contributions to peacekeeping missions are significant and should not be undermined by international partners.
His remarks follow a report by Bloomberg indicating that European Union funding supporting Rwandan troops deployed in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, is set to end in May 2026.
Nduhungirehe said such decisions risk weakening ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability, arguing that Rwanda contributes far more resources than it receives from external partners.
“Beyond the financial resources our country provides, our soldiers are also losing their lives in the fight against insurgents in Cabo Delgado. These efforts benefit not only Mozambique but also the international community,” he said.
He emphasized that the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) operates at a cost significantly higher than the support received from the European Union, noting that Rwanda’s contribution is estimated to be at least ten times greater than EU funding.
The EU had approved €20 million in support through the European Peace Facility during a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels in November 2024, following an earlier package of the same amount granted in December 2022.
According to Rwandan officials, those funds have already been fully utilized.Nduhungirehe warned that continued pressure, including sanctions, could undermine cooperation, even as Rwanda remains committed to working with Mozambique.
“Rwandan forces cannot continue to carry out these responsibilities while facing constant pressure and sanctions. Our cooperation with Mozambique will continue, but it risks being affected by such actions,” he said.
The developments come after the United States announced sanctions against Rwanda on March 2, 2026, over allegations of links with the M23 rebel group claims Kigali has repeatedly denied.
Rwanda has been involved in peacekeeping operations for more than two decades, beginning with its first deployment in Sudan in 2004.
Today, it ranks among the top contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions, with over 4,500 troops deployed in UNMISS in South Sudan and MINUSCA in the Central African Republic.
The minister reiterated that Rwanda’s role in maintaining peace across the continent remains critical and should be supported rather than questioned.
