Rwanda to rotate troops and police officers deployed in Mozambique

By The Inspirer.

The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and Rwanda National Police (RNP) are set to rotate their contingents serving in the peace support mission in Mozambique.

On September 13, 2025, at the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College in Gako, Bugesera district, the RDF army chief of staff, Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi, and the deputy inspector general of police in charge of operations, DIGP Vincent Sano, addressed soldiers and police officers preparing to replace their colleagues in Mozambique.

The new contingent, led by Maj Gen Vincent Gatama, will take over from troops and officers who have completed a one-year tour of duty in Cabo Delgado province, where they have been supporting operations against insurgent groups.

Speaking on behalf of president Paul Kagame, commander-in-chief of the RDF, Maj Gen Nyakarundi urged the outgoing forces to uphold the discipline and dedication that have characterized Rwanda’s mission in Mozambique over the past four years.

He emphasized that their task goes beyond combat operations, highlighting the importance of helping the government of Mozambique strengthen its own security institutions.

DIGP Sano called on the personnel to work in unity and safeguard Rwanda’s reputation by maintaining high professional standards throughout the mission.

Rwanda’s deployment in Mozambique is based on bilateral agreements signed in 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government. Cabo Delgado had been overrun by insurgents since 2017, with more than 3,000 people killed and around 800,000 displaced.

Since the arrival of Rwandan forces in 2021, significant progress has been made. By late 2023, Mozambique announced that over 90% of Cabo Delgado had been stabilized, allowing thousands of displaced residents to return home.