Rwanda extends military support to Cabo Delgado, Mozambique

MAPUTO, Mozambique

Rwanda’s armed forces have extended action to the southern part of Cabo Delgado province, extending support to Mozambique in the fight against terrorism beyond the area of the gas projects, according to information released by the troops.

The gas projects, suspended due to attacks, are in Palma district, on the northeastern tip of the province, but Rwandan forces “have an ongoing operation launched on 21 December” in Ancuabe district, to the south, they said in a statement.

"Mozambique’s defence minister, Major-General Cristóvão Chume, along with the deputy commander of the Mozambican armed forces, Lieutenant-General Bertolino Capitine, visited Rwandan forces in Ancuabe district,” the document published on Sunday said.

The Mozambican leaders were briefed on the state of play by Brigadier-General Frank Mutembe, commander of the designated battle group.

"They received a ‘briefing’ on the ongoing operations”, and the Mozambican minister “showed appreciation for the work that has been done on the ground so far,” the Rwandan statement concluded.

The district hosts graphite mines, a resource that has been valued in recent years due to demand for the manufacture of batteries for new electric cars.

However, there were mines that suspended activity for some time in mid-2022 due to attacks by insurgents who are presumed to be moving down from the northeast of the province, where their bases were destroyed.

Some splinter groups are suspected of carrying out the latest attacks on civilians in other nearby districts.

Cabo Delgado province has faced an armed insurgency for five years, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

The insurgency has led to a military response since July 2021 with support from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), liberating districts near gas projects, but new waves of attacks have emerged south of the region and in neighbouring Nampula province.

The conflict has left one million people displaced, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and about 4,000 dead, according to the ACLED conflict registration project.