The minister is accompanied by Army Commander Maj Gen André Rafael Mahunguane and CP Fabião Pedro Nhancololo, Commander of the Law and Order Service of Mozambique's National Police.
During the visit, Minister Chume and his delegation on Saturday, August 24, 2025, visited the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Headquarters, where they held talks with Rwanda's Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, and RDF Chief of Defence Staff, General MK Mubarakh. The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral defence collaboration and regional security coordination.
The Mozambican delegation was briefed on Rwanda's contributions to peace and security across Africa. Speaking to the media, Minister Chume said the visit aimed to reinforce defence and security ties, noting that Rwanda is a key partner to Mozambique not only in defence but also in socio-economic development.
He highlighted the joint operations conducted by Mozambican forces alongside the RDF in Cabo Delgado, which have contributed to stabilising the region and enabling displaced communities to return home.
He emphasised that the operations will further degrade the insurgency. He commended the courage and sacrifice of the Rwanda Security Forces in support of the Mozambican people.
Minister Chume also emphasised other areas of cooperation, including training programs and intelligence sharing, underlining that terrorism remains a common regional threat.
In addition to defence discussions, the Mozambican delegation paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi at the Kigali Genocide Memorial and toured the Campaign against Genocide Museum.
Rwanda first deployed a joint RDF and Rwanda National Police force to Cabo Delgado in July 2021, at the request of the Mozambican government. Since then, Rwandan forces have played a crucial role in counterterrorism operations, helping to liberate and stabilise areas previously held by insurgents.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
