Minister Nduhungirehe made these remarks in a conversation shared on X by Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairson Monday, March 16, 2026.
Rwanda’s involvement in Cabo Delgado has caught public attention again following a report by Bloomberg, which revealed that the European Union’s €20 billion contribution to this mission could end in May 2026, with no plans to renew the support.
Following this information, Rwanda’s government spokesperson Yolande Makolo and Minister Nduhungirehe pointed out that Rwanda has contributed significantly to this mission and is ready to halt its involvement if its troops continue to be undervalued or if the EU’s support stops.
In the statement shared on Monday, Minister Nduhungirehe clarified that Rwanda has not yet made a final decision to end its mission but emphasized that this was more of a reminder.
“It is not a decision we have made, but rather a principle we wanted to bring to limelight, as Rwanda’s troops were deployed in Mozambique in July 2021 at the invitation of the Mozambican government to assist in combating the Ansar al-Sunna terrorist group, which has links to the Islamic State.”
He further noted that during Rwanda’s deployment in Cabo Delgado, calm was restored, allowing citizens to return to their work, and investment resumed in the region.
“For the past four or five years, the Rwandan troops have done outstanding work. The people have returned to their homes, students have gone back to school, businesses have resumed, and significant investments, particularly in the gas sector, have been revitalized. All of this was achieved by Rwanda’s soldiers, in collaboration with the Mozambican army, and with the support of the European Union,” he said.
Rwanda’s commitment and the conditions for continuation
Minister Nduhungirehe made it clear that Rwanda has made substantial contributions, both in terms of financial resources and the sacrifice of lives, in its effort to bring stability to the region which should be recognized.
“Therefore, we reminded them that Rwanda has made a significant contribution, providing financial support ten times more than that of the European Union, and we have also lost soldiers who were killed in the battle to bring peace to that region,” he said.
He also stressed that the Rwandan army cannot continue with this mission if it is under constant pressure or subjected to sanctions.
“Therefore, we gave a reminder that Rwanda’s troops, in carrying out this mission, are serving Mozambique, its people, and the international community at large, which has companies that invest in the region; cannot continue this work if they are constantly criticized, sanctioned, or placed under pressure.”
Minister Nduhungirehe emphasized that the Rwandan army would continue its mission as long as there is no setback.
“This cannot continue, which is why we gave a reminder that Rwanda will continue its mission as long as the support it receives continues. However, if that support is stopped, it is clear that we will leave the country, and then those countries will have to find other troops or another country to carry out the mission,” he noted.
Rwandan troops were deployed to Cabo Delgado in July 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government, which sought assistance in countering terrorist activities that had severely disrupted the region since 2017. Since then, multiple rotations of troops have taken place.
On March 13, 2026, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) announced that it is preparing to rotate out soldiers and police officers who have been deployed in the mission for over a year.
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