By Cremilda Macuácua, China Africa News
Kigali , 15th March 2026 —Rwanda has made it clear it will withdraw its forces from Mozambique if the financial and logistical arrangements supporting the mission are not maintained, Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said, underscoring that the country cannot be expected to shoulder the burden of the deployment indefinitely on its own.
Nduhungirehe noted that Rwanda’s military presence in northern Mozambique requires predictable and sustainable support, warning that without it, Kigali would have no choice but to reconsider the continuation of the mission. The deployment, he explained, involves significant operational costs and resources, making long-term sustainability an important factor in determining the future of Rwanda’s involvement.
The remarks came as Rwanda also moved to clarify the nature of its mission in the insurgency-hit Cabo Delgado Province. Earlier in the day, government spokesperson Yolande Makolo stressed that Rwanda’s deployment is fundamentally based on a bilateral security partnership between Kigali and Maputo.
Makolo emphasized that the operation was launched in July 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government and remains grounded in cooperation between the two countries rather than being solely dependent on international funding. She added that Rwanda continues to work closely with Mozambique and other partners to ensure lasting stability in the region.
Since the deployment began, the Rwanda Defence Force has worked alongside Mozambican troops to push back insurgents who had seized large parts of Cabo Delgado and threatened strategic economic projects in the province. The insurgency, which has been linked to militants associated with Islamic State, has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and disrupted development in northern Mozambique.
Rwandan forces have been widely credited with helping Mozambican authorities regain control of several key towns and restore a degree of security in areas previously dominated by insurgents.
While Kigali has not announced any immediate plans to withdraw its troops, Nduhungirehe’s comments highlight the importance Rwanda places on sustainable arrangements for the mission. Together with Makolo’s earlier clarification, the statements reflect Rwanda’s dual message: a continued commitment to supporting Mozambique’s stability, alongside a reminder that long-term deployments require shared responsibility and practical support.
