Speaking to Rádio Moçambique in Harare, Zimbabwe, after the conclusion of an extraordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, Nyusi highlighted the significance of the EU’s contribution to bolstering the efforts of Rwandan forces operating alongside Mozambican troops in the troubled northern region.

Addressing questions on why the funding was allocated directly to Rwanda instead of Mozambique, Nyusi clarified that Mozambique already receives substantial EU support across various sectors. This includes military training and strategic initiatives amounting to €800 million.

The EU Council’s approval, announced on November 18, 2024, under the European Peace Facility (EPF) supplements the €20 million pledged in late 2022 and aims to strengthen the operational capacity of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) in Cabo Delgado.

The new funds will facilitate the acquisition of personal equipment and cover strategic airlift costs to sustain the Rwandan deployment.

Rwandan troops were first deployed in Cabo Delgado in July 2021 at the request of Mozambique’s government.

Their mission has been critical in countering terrorism, which had claimed over 3,000 civilian lives and displaced more than 800,000 people prior to their intervention. The insurgency also halted development projects in areas under terrorist control.

Over the past three years, Rwandan forces, in collaboration with Mozambican troops, have made significant progress in dismantling the Al Sunna Wa Jama (ASWJ) terrorist group.

They successfully cleared key strongholds such as Mocimboa da Praia and Palma, enabling thousands of internally displaced persons to return to their communities and resume their lives.

President Filipe Nyusi has commended EU's increased support for Rwandan troops in Cabo Delgado.