Anti-government protests have rocked Maputo since the October 9 presidential election, which the ruling Frelimo party won. The ruling party's presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, secured a 70.7% victory according to the official results, but opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane has dismissed the polls as fraudulent and is calling for street protests.
With the rising tension, a social media user shared a video of the police battling protesters on X, claiming that the Rwandan troops were among the security forces.
South African journalist and international news editor for SABC Sophie Mokoena sought clarification from the Rwandan authorities over the clip.
'Rwanda must quickly respond to these allegations. This will create a huge problem. A swift response is needed. The @SADC_News can't look away. This political and security crisis is not good for the region,' she wrote on X.
Responding to the journalist, Yolande Makolo, the Rwandan government spokesperson, dismissed the claims, clarifying that there are no Rwandan security forces in Maputo; rather, they are in the Cabo Delgado Province, where they are engaged in anti-terrorism operations.
'Hello, Sophie. This is a lie. There are no Rwandan troops in Maputo. Rwandan Security Forces are deployed strictly in Cabo Delgado province, in joint operations with Mozambican forces against extremist Islamist fighters that have been terrorizing residents in the province,' Makolo stated.
Rwandan forces are helping Mozambique's army fight militants who launched an armed uprising in 2017.
Rwanda deployed its security forces to Mozambique in 2021 after the insurgency escalated, with the militia employing violent tactics, including attacks on civilians and security forces and destruction of property.
Since 2021, Mozambique has also received military support from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), but SADC forces began withdrawing in April 2024 as their mandate ended. This withdrawal has left Rwanda with a greater share of responsibility in assisting local forces in addressing the ongoing security crisis in the northern province.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
