It has been nearly five years since Rwanda first deployed troops to Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province to combat terrorism. This decision was made following a request from the Mozambican government, whose military had been overwhelmed by the terrorist group Ahlu Sunna wa Jama.
The primary mission of Rwanda's troops was to eliminate the terrorist threat; a goal they have largely achieved as the entire Cabo Delgado region has been liberated.
Following their combat operations, the Rwandan forces were expected to proceed to the next phase, training Mozambique's soldiers to maintain security after the Rwandan troops return home.
In an interview with IGIHE, Brig. Gen. Rwivanga confirmed that this training initiative is underway, with the first group of 600 soldiers nearing completion.
He stated, 'I can confirm that we are now at the stage of training Mozambique's forces. The first cohort, consisting of about 600 soldiers, is being trained at a center in Nacala, and they will soon complete their training.
In the coming days, we will be there to conclude the first phase of training conducted by Rwanda.' Brig. Gen. Rwivanga further emphasized that peace has largely been restored in Mozambique.
'Mozambique is in a very stable condition now. We have conducted extensive military operations. If you recall, our troop numbers increased, and we took over areas previously held by SADC forces, including Macomia,' he added.
Initially, we were only responsible for Palma and Mocimboa da Praia, but due to the confidence the Mozambican leadership had in us, we were asked to expand our operations.'
He highlighted that SADC forces had left areas still harboring insurgents, which required additional work from the Rwandan forces.
'When SAMIM (the SADC Mission in Mozambique) withdrew from Macomia, the enemy was still present specifically in a forested area called Katupa, resembling Rwanda's Nyungwe Forest. We conducted numerous operations to flush them out, including along the coastline, and gradually dismantled their positions. The region is now largely peaceful, with only minor incidents that we continue to address on a daily basis,' he explained.
IGIHE
