Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, has said that Rwanda could withdraw its troops from Cabo Delgado if financial support from the European Union is halted.
Rwandan troops have been deployed in Cabo Delgado for several years to help Mozambique fight armed groups that had destabilised the gas-rich province.
Speaking in an interview with Agasaro Radio, Nduhungirehe said the Rwandan forces, working together with Mozambican troops, had helped restore stability in the region.
He noted that over the past four to five years the security situation had improved significantly, allowing civilians to return to their homes, schools to reopen and economic activities to resume. Major investments in the gas sector have also restarted after years of disruption caused by attacks in the province.
According to Nduhungirehe, the EU has been supporting the deployment of Rwandan troops through financial assistance. However, he emphasised that Rwanda itself has contributed far more resources to the mission, including financial support estimated to be nearly ten times higher than the assistance provided by the EU.
The minister also acknowledged that Rwanda had lost soldiers during the operation while helping restore peace and stability in the region.
He stressed that Rwanda cannot continue carrying out the mission while its forces face constant criticism or sanctions. “Rwanda will continue the mission it was asked to carry out if the support continues,” he said. “But if the support stops, our troops will leave Mozambique and those countries will have to find other forces to take over the mission.”
The European Union recently indicated through its spokesperson that funding under the European Peace Facility, which supports peace missions abroad, is expected to end in May 2026. The EU is also reviewing the impact of sanctions recently announced by the United States against some Rwandan military officials.
Cabo Delgado remains strategically important due to its vast natural gas reserves. French energy company TotalEnergies leads a major liquefied natural gas project in the province worth about $20 billion.
The project had previously been suspended after attacks by armed groups damaged infrastructure and forced companies to halt operations. Since security improved, the investment has gradually resumed.
Questions remain about what could happen if Rwandan troops withdraw from the province, where they had replaced forces from the Southern African Development Community after those troops struggled to contain the insurgency.
