Summary:
- Rwandan Security Forces have successfully collaborated with Mozambican counterparts to drive out jihadists in northern Mozambique, particularly in Palma, while also providing crucial medical outreach in areas devastated by the insurgency.
In April of 2021, the town of Palma in Mozambique fell to Islamic State jihadists, resulting in numerous casualties and a tense standoff between insurgents and hundreds of civilians. The relentless insurgency, which commenced in 2017, had overwhelmed the increasingly desperate Mozambican government.
Faced with an ineffective army, Mozambique initially sought assistance from South African mercenaries, a Southern African regional defense force, and the notorious Russian mercenary group, the Wagner Group, all with limited success. However, a turning point occurred when the country turned to Rwanda for support against the jihadists. The Rwandan Security Forces were instrumental in this effort, leading to the deployment of 1000 Rwandan soldiers to the beleaguered Cabo Delgado province.
Three years later, reports indicate significant progress, with the Rwandan forces claiming to have restored order in most parts of northern Mozambique. According to Brig. Gen. Ronald Rwivanga, a spokesperson for the Rwandan Army, they successfully dislodged the jihadists from their strongholds and training areas, forcing them to retreat south across the Messalo River to Macomia District in another forest.
The focus of the Rwandan forces has primarily been on Palma, a town hosting a $30 billion gas project run by the French company Total Energies. This town is a crucial port through which essential materials for the plant’s development are transported. The joint efforts of the Rwanda Security Forces and Mozambique Security Forces are concentrated in Cabo Delgado Province, specifically in three districts: Palma, Mocimboa da Praia, and Ancuabe.
In the devastated town of Mocimboa-da Praia, where a hospital was bombed by jihadists, the ruins remain, leaving returnees without a health facility. To address this medical gap, Rwandan forces are providing medical outreach in makeshift structures, offering periodic services based on the needs of the population, supplementing the services provided by the Mozambican government.
Brig. Gen. Ronald Rwivanga emphasized the collaborative efforts, stating, “Our team of experienced medical workers, with guidance from the local communities, offers periodical medical services based on the needs of the population, supplementing the services offered by the Mozambican government.”
Maj. Gen. Alex Kagame, the joint task force commander of the Rwandan Security Forces in Mozambique, highlighted the successful deployment of fight patrols, ambushes, and joint patrols with Mozambican forces in achieving these positive outcomes. In the previously jihadist-affected districts of Palma and Mocimboa-da Praia, the local population now expresses full praise for the peacekeeping efforts of the Rwandan forces.
