Rwanda is considering withdrawing its troops from Mozambique in May, as European Union funding for the deployment is set to expire. The potential withdrawal raises questions about the long-term stability of the counter-terrorism effort in Cabo Delgado province, where Rwandan forces have been assisting Mozambique’s military since 2022.
According to reports, the EU will end its assistance measures for the Rwandan contingent in Mozambique in May 2026. “The current assistance measures, adopted in 2022 and 2024, expire in May 2026,” an EU source stated, as reported by Bloomberg.
Rwanda has responded to the reports, emphasizing the importance of sustained support for its mission. Officials stated that the sustainability of the deployment hinges on “adequate” funding, should their forces continue to be needed. This response came on Saturday, March 14, 2026, according to The New Times. Major General Vincent Nyakarundi, the Army Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force, briefed a joint contingent of RDF and Rwanda National Police officers preparing to relieve colleagues already deployed in Cabo Delgado.
The potential end of EU funding has prompted discussion about Rwanda’s broader strategic interests in the region, including its role in energy security. La Nouvelle Tribune reported that Rwanda is leveraging its involvement in Mozambique to highlight its importance in Europe’s diversification of energy sources.
Approximately 1,000 Rwandan soldiers could be affected by the funding cut, according to upday News. The development underscores the challenges of sustaining international security interventions in Africa when reliant on external financial support.
The EU has indicated it does not plan to extend its financial contribution to Rwanda for the Mozambique deployment, as reported by mediacongo.net. This decision could have broader implications for regional security cooperation and the fight against jihadist groups in Mozambique.
