“In fact, we have been financially supporting the Rwandan forces and we have received the request. It is currently being analysed,” said Jutta Urpilainen, questioned by Lusa at the end of her 24-hour visit to Maputo.

Under the European Peace Facility, the European Union had already approved 2023 support totalling €20 million for the Rwandan forces in Cabo Delgado, in the fight against terrorist groups operating in the region.

In order to approve the new support, all member states must approve it.

“My dear colleague, the High Representative, Vice-President Burrell, will most likely make his decision in the near future. But right now it’s being considered,” added Jutta Urpilainen.

According to the European Union, this mechanism ensures adequate risk assessment and mitigation measures in accordance with international human rights law, international humanitarian law and EU arms export legislation.

Rwanda is reinforcing the current contingent of more than 2,500 soldiers fighting insurgent groups in Cabo Delgado, Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi announced on 18 May, hours after meeting his Rwandan counterpart in Kigali.

“More troops are arriving this week, not to exchange [military rotation], but to add flow. And this is mainly because of the departure of SAMIM [the military mission of southern African countries], and when it definitively leaves the Macomia area we will occupy it,” said Filipe Nyusi.

“Not because Mozambique can’t [ensure defence], but terrorism can’t be fought alone. But the greatest responsibility lies with Mozambicans,” emphasised Nyusi, who also met with the president of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné, in Kigali on this visit.

Due to attacks by insurgent groups, the French oil company suspended its US$20 billion (around €18.6 million) natural gas megaproject in Palma, Cabo Delgado, in 2021 and, for Filipe Nyusi, who told the leader of TotalEnergies about the decision to reinforce the Rwandan contingent guaranteeing security in the area, the question is not “if [the project] will resume, but when”.

“We’re completely sure that Rwanda is co-operating with the country, not with people. And the greatest pride we would have is to leave things well done so that they can continue,” said Filipe Nyusi, alluding to Mozambique’s electoral cycle, which is holding general elections on 9 October, including presidential elections, which the current head of state can no longer run in because he has reached the two-term limit.

Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed rebellion since October 2017 with attacks claimed by movements associated with the extremist group Islamic State, fought since 2021 with the support of the military from Rwanda and southern African countries, the latter in the process of withdrawing from the field since April, to be completed by July.

On 10 May, the Ministry of National Defence confirmed a “terrorist attack” at dawn on the village of Macomia, guaranteeing that one of the group’s leaders was wounded by the Mozambique armed forces (FADM) and another killed.

“The attack lasted around 45 minutes and the terrorists were promptly repelled by the coordinated action of our forces, which forced the enemy to retreat, towards the interior of the Mucojo administrative post,” he said in a statement.

The President of Mozambique had confirmed the attack on the district headquarters of Macomia at the end of the morning of 10 May, explaining that it took place in an area previously controlled by the soldiers of the SAMIM mission.