Rwanda rotates troops in Cabo Delgado #rwanda #RwOT

The forces were flagged off by Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Army Chief of Staff alongside Commissioner of Police Vincent B. Sano who is the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations.

During the briefing at Kigali International Airport, Maj Gen Nyakarundi emphasized the importance of maintaining the discipline and momentum that the Rwandan security forces have exhibited over the past three years.

On his part, Commissioner of Police Vincent B. Sano echoed similar sentiments, urging the troops to foster teamwork and avoid actions that could tarnish Rwanda's reputation. He stressed the importance of unity in achieving their mission objectives.

The departing forces will be under the command of Maj Gen Emmy Ruvusha, who takes over from Maj Gen Alex Kagame. Their deployment is part of Rwanda's ongoing commitment to supporting Mozambique in countering the insurgency that has plagued Cabo Delgado since October 2017, when armed extremists first launched a rebellion in the region.

In response to the escalating violence and widespread displacement, Rwanda began deploying its security forces to Mozambique on July 9, 2021. Initially consisting of 1,000 troops from both the Rwanda Defence Force and the Rwanda National Police, the contingent had grown to nearly 2,000 by the end of 2021.

By late 2022, it was announced that the number of Rwandan troops in Mozambique had increased to about 2,500, reflecting their expanded mandate to pursue and dislodge terrorists from their hideouts.

Mozambique has also received military support from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) since 2021. However, SADC forces began withdrawing in April this year as their mandate drew close to the end.

Before the intervention of Rwandan troops in 2021, terrorists had claimed the lives of 3,000 civilians, and more than 800,000 people had been displaced. The insecurity had also brought all development projects in the insurgent-controlled areas to a standstill.

Over the past three years, the Rwandan security forces, in collaboration with Mozambique's armed forces, have made significant strides in dismantling the Al Sunna Wa Jama (ASWJ) terrorist group from their strongholds in Mocimboa da Praia and Palma. This has allowed a substantial number of internally displaced people to safely return to their villages.

Rwanda and Mozambique have enjoyed vibrant relations for many years, with cooperation agreements spanning various sectors, including security, trade, and investment.