Rwanda and Mozambique have signed a peace and security agreement during Mozambican President Daniel Chapo’s two-day state visit to Kigali, according to officials. The accord, signed Wednesday by Rwanda’s Defence Minister Juvenal Marizamunda and his Mozambican counterpart Cristovao Artur Chume, strengthens cooperation between the two nations as their militaries confront an Islamic State-linked insurgency in Mozambique’s gas-rich north. Rwandan President Paul Kagame welcomed the agreement, calling it a symbol of “strong bilateral ties,” while Chapo described it as an important instrument supporting Rwandan forces already deployed in the conflict zone.

Joint Operations Against Insurgents

Since 2021, Rwanda has deployed around 1,000 personnel from the Rwanda Defence Forces and National Police to support Mozambique’s military operations in Cabo Delgado, a province plagued by insurgent violence since 2017. Fighting has intensified in recent months, with armed groups launching renewed assaults that displaced thousands and further destabilised the region. Troops from both countries remain concentrated in northern districts and around Palma, where France’s TotalEnergies is attempting to restart construction on its multi-billion-dollar liquefied natural gas project.

Economic Stakes And Civilian Impact

The LNG project, valued at $20 billion, has been suspended since a deadly 2021 attack in Palma that left more than 800 people dead, including subcontractors working for TotalEnergies. Analysts say security conditions remain precarious, as insurgent groups continue to undermine efforts to restore stability. Mozambique, which possesses vast offshore gas reserves discovered in 2010, could become one of the world’s top 10 natural gas producers, according to Deloitte. However, progress hinges on ensuring safety in Cabo Delgado, where over 70 percent of the population lives in poverty and where international investments remain vulnerable to violence.