- EU Disburses 20 Million Euros for Defence Forces of Rwanda
Por Ricardo Dias
Maputo (MOZTIMES) - The Council of the European Union (EU), through the European Peace Mechanism, has disbursed 20 million euros in favour of the defence forces of Rwanda, to support them in the fight against terrorism in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, the EU announced in a statement on Monday.
“This support will allow the acquisition of personal equipment and will cover the costs related with the air transport that is strategic and necessary for the deployment of the Rwandan troops in Cabo Delgado”, the EU statement declares.
The Rwandan forces have been in Mozambique since July 2021, supporting the Mozambican defence and security forces in the struggle against the terrorism that began on 5 October 2017.
According to the Monday statement, the EU believes that the presence of the Rwandan troops on Mozambican soil has been “fundamental for progress and remains important” after the departure of the troops of the Southern African Development Community (SAMIM).
The disbursal of these funds bears witness to the EU’s support for “African solutions to African problems” as part of the global struggle against terrorism, it adds.
This sum is in addition to the previous 89 million euros disbursed for the defence and security forces trained by the EU in Mozambique.
Cabo Delgado province has been facing an armed rebellion since 2017, with attacks that are claimed by the Islamic State, and which have so far displaced over a million people and killed more than 4,000. (RD)
