Rwanda and Mozambique signed a peace and security agreement in Kigali on Wednesday, deepening cooperation as insurgency violence grips northern Mozambique. Rwandan Defence Forces spokesperson Ronald Rwivanga confirmed the deal but said specific details would be shared at a later stage.
The pact comes as jihadist attacks multiply in Cabo Delgado province, displacing thousands and unsettling foreign energy ventures in the gas-rich region. Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo described the agreement as a crucial step, praising Rwanda’s military presence and assistance in stabilising conflict-hit communities.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame welcomed the accord, signed by Defence Ministers Juvenal Marizamunda and Cristovao Artur Chume, citing strong bilateral ties and mutual resolve. Chapo arrived in Kigali for a two-day state visit, underscoring the importance of security cooperation as both countries confront shared threats.
Since 2021, Rwanda has stationed about 1,000 soldiers and police in Mozambique, joining local forces to combat Islamic State-linked militants. Insurgents have terrorised Cabo Delgado since 2017, targeting towns and villages, and threatening a multi-billion-dollar liquefied natural gas project near Palma.
The French energy giant TotalEnergies halted work in 2021 after a brutal attack that killed more than 800 people, including subcontractors. The new agreement is seen as an attempt to restore confidence and secure conditions for the company’s \$20 billion project to resume.
Mozambique’s offshore gas reserves, discovered in 2010, are vast enough to transform the impoverished nation into one of the world’s top producers. Yet, with over 70 percent of its citizens living in poverty, stability remains the critical condition for translating resources into lasting prosperity.
