Maputo, March 13, 2026 (Lusa) - The European Union's (EU) support for Rwandan forces fighting terrorism in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, is due to end in May, and there are no negotiations regarding its continuation, an EU source told Lusa on Friday.
“The current support, amounting to €20 million, for the Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) under the European Peace Facility runs until May 2026. To date, no further measures are planned under this facility beyond this period,” said a source from the EU delegation in Mozambique, when questioned by Lusa.
More than 2,000 Rwandan troops are assisting Mozambican forces in security operations, particularly near TotalEnergies' gas megaproject in Cabo Delgado, where construction resumed in January, almost 5 years after it was suspended due to terrorist attacks.
The source from the EU delegation also explained that the “beneficiary of this assistance measure” is the Republic of Rwanda, “with its implementation being the responsibility of its Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning”, adding that there are no ongoing negotiations for further support.
On 18 November, the Council of the European Union (EU) approved an additional €20 million in support for Rwandan forces combating terrorism in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, noting that this deployment “has been crucial”.
"The Council today adopted a €20 million top-up to an existing assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to continue supporting the deployment of the Rwandan Defence Force in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado," the body representing EU Member States stated in a press release at the time.
The institution explained at the time that this support would enable the procurement of personal equipment and cover the costs associated with the strategic air transport required to support the Rwandan deployment in Cabo Delgado.
This deployment began in July 2021, at the request of the Mozambican authorities to support the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado and, according to the position then conveyed by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, “has been crucial to making progress”.
“And it remains crucial, especially given the recent withdrawal of the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique,” emphasised Josep Borrell, noting that “this reinforcement measure is a testament to the EU's support for "African solutions to African problems" and, as part of the global fight against terrorism, will also serve the EU's interests in the region”.
The additional funding complements the parallel assistance measure, worth €89 million, to the Mozambican Armed Forces previously trained by the EU Training Mission in Mozambique.
The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 to finance EU external actions with military or defence implications, with the aim of preventing conflicts, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability.
Since October 2017, the gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed insurgency, with attacks claimed by movements linked to the extremist group Islamic State, which are estimated to have caused around 6,500 deaths.
PVJ/ADB // ADB.
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