Funding from the European Union for Rwanda troops stationed in Mozambique to counter an Islamic State-linked insurgency is scheduled to end in May, with no current plans for extension, according to sources familiar with the matter.
In 2024, the EU approved €20 million ($23 million) in support for the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) operating in the gas-rich Cabo Delgado province, matching the funding provided nearly two years prior, Bloomberg reported.
The financing, delivered through the European Peace Facility, was intended to cover the costs of equipment and logistics for Rwandan forces, according to the European Council.
The timing coincides with heightened scrutiny of Rwanda’s military operations after the United States Treasury sanctioned the RDF, alleging its involvement in supporting and fighting alongside the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The effect of the sanctions on Rwanda’s thousands of troops in Mozambique, who are tasked with securing a region hosting major energy investments, including TotalEnergies’ $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, remains uncertain.
“The current assistance measures, adopted in 2022 and 2024, expire in May 2026,” an EU spokesperson said. “The EU has taken note of the U.S. sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force and several commanders and is assessing their implications.”
Despite this review, sources familiar with the arrangements indicate that there are no plans at present to renew EU funding beyond the expiry date.
Cabo Delgado’s strategic value
The security of Cabo Delgado has gained increasing international importance as global energy markets look for alternative sources of supply.
Interruptions to critical shipping routes, including those affecting transit through the Strait of Hormuz, have heightened interest in LNG suppliers outside the Middle East.
Within this context, Mozambique’s extensive gas reserves have grown strategically significant. The country’s flagship LNG initiative, led by TotalEnergies, sits at the center of these ambitions.
A neighbouring development led by Exxon Mobil had also been halted since March 2021, following a large-scale attack by Islamic State-linked militants on the town of Palma.
In response to the assault, Mozambique requested military assistance from Rwanda, which deployed troops to stabilise the region and protect the gas-rich province.