Cabo Delgado: Rwanda intensifies offensive against terrorists
The Commander of the Rwandan Security Forces (RSF), Major General Emmy K. Ruvusha, announced that Rwandan troops will intensify offensive operations against terrorist groups in areas under their responsibility, aiming to curtail the insurgents' freedom of action in northern Mozambique. This declaration was made on Tuesday, October 1st, during an operational coordination meeting held in Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado province.
The meeting included representatives from the Mozambican Armed Forces and the Bilateral Force from Tanzania, among other stakeholders involved in counter-terrorism efforts in the region. "He [Ruvusha] assured participants that the RSF will continue to intensify offensive operations against terrorists in the areas of responsibility to deny them freedom of action," according to a statement by the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) on the platform X (formerly Twitter).
This announcement follows a high-level meeting on September 27th between the Chief of General Staff of the Mozambican Armed Forces, Admiral Joaquim Mangrasse, and Major General Ruvusha. The meeting aimed to assess joint efforts to restore peace and stability in the region and was attended by a delegation from the Mozambican Armed Forces and the Bilateral Force from Tanzania.
The decision to ramp up operations is also linked to the growing involvement of security companies connected to the Rwandan government in protecting strategic assets such as the $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project operated by TotalEnergies in Cabo Delgado. Rwanda has expanded its commercial activities in Mozambique since its forces helped combat the Islamist insurgency in the region, which began about three years ago.
Major General Emmy Ruvusha recently took command of the Rwandan Security Force in Cabo Delgado, succeeding Major General Alex Kagame, whose mission ended in late August. Ruvusha officially assumed command on September 7th, following an insurgent attack in Mocímboa da Praia, which resulted in an ambush of Rwandan forces.
Since the arrival of Rwandan troops in Cabo Delgado in July 2021, at the request of the Mozambican government, joint operations between Rwandan and Mozambican forces have led to the expulsion of insurgents from several areas of the province. This intervention has enabled the return of more than 250,000 displaced people to their homes and the resumption of economic activities in districts like Palma and Mocímboa da Praia, which have been affected by attacks since 2017.
