He was speaking with IGIHE following social media speculation suggesting the presence of Rwandan troops in Maputo.
Anti-government protests have erupted in Maputo since the October 9 presidential election, which saw the ruling Frelimo party secure a victory.
According to official results, Frelimo's presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, won with 70.7% of the vote. However, opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane has rejected the results, alleging fraud and calling for public protests.
Amid these events, a social media user shared a video on X, claiming that Rwandan troops were among the security forces confronting protesters.
In response to this claim, Brig Gen Rwivanga clarified in an interview with IGIHE that the information is false, emphasizing that the deployment locations of Rwandan troops are known.
'It's not true; we are in Cabo Delgado, and all our sectors are well-known: Palma, Mocimboa da Praia, Macomia, and Ancuabe. These are the sectors we were assigned, and the work we're doing keeps us very busy,' he said.
Rwandan forces are assisting Mozambique's army in combating militants who launched an armed uprising in 2017.
In response to the escalating violence and displacement, Rwanda began deploying its security forces to Mozambique on July 9, 2021.
Brig Gen Rwivanga clarified that Rwandan troops are currently engaged in managing the remaining rebels scattered across the designated sectors.
'What is happening in Maputo has nothing to do with us. None of our soldiers has set foot there. It's just rumors,' he stated.
The spokesperson suggested that these rumors might stem from individuals aiming to disrupt peace or and portray the government as incapable.
'But for us, that's not our concern. We don't engage in speculation. We simply speak the facts. [...] What we want is to ensure our operations are progressing well,' he added.
Before the intervention of Rwandan troops in 2021, the insurgency had claimed the lives of about 3,000 civilians, and more than 800,000 people had been displaced. The insecurity also brought all development projects in the insurgent-controlled areas to a standstill.
Since then, Rwandan security forces, in collaboration with Mozambique's armed forces, have made substantial progress in dismantling the Al Sunna Wa Jama (ASWJ) terrorist group from their strongholds in Mocimboa da Praia and Palma. This has allowed a significant number of internally displaced people to return to their villages safely.
In addition to Rwanda's support, Mozambique has also received military assistance from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) since 2021. However, SADC forces began withdrawing in April this year as their mandate approached its conclusion.
Rwanda and Mozambique have maintained strong diplomatic ties for many years, with cooperation agreements across various sectors, including security, trade, and investment.
Théophile Niyitegeka
