Rwanda and Mozambique have signed a new “peace and security” agreement as their forces battle a long-running insurgency in northern Mozambique. The new agreement was signed during a two-day state visit by the southern African leader to Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda.
Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo said that the new agreement is a very important instrument for the Rwandan forces in the country. The Rwandan Defence Forces spokesperson, Ronald Rwivanga, confirmed there were “no details yet” available about the signed deal.
The agreement comes as jihadist attacks in Mozambique have multiplied, causing mass displacements and disrupting foreign fossil fuel companies. Since 2021, Rwanda has deployed roughly 1,000 members of the RDF and the Rwanda National Police to assist in the fight against insurgents.
Mozambican troops and the Rwandan army are concentrated in the northern districts where the long-running insurgency has been most intense. Renewed attacks now threaten the French fossil fuel giant TotalEnergies’ hopes of restarting construction on its large natural gas project.
The project was originally stalled since a deadly attack in March 2021 that resulted in over 800 victims, according to a conflict monitor. Mozambique’s vast offshore natural gas reserves could place the country among the world’s top 10 producers if the project is restarted.