ACLED Report | Rwanda in Mozambique: Limits to civilian protection

In March 2025, a senior figure in Mozambique’s Local Force, a government-backed militia on the front line against Islamic State Mozambique (ISM), stated that Rwandan forces in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province are now unwilling to engage with ISM militarily. He claimed that the Rwandan forces often turned up hours after an attack, even when they were located nearby. He also noted how ISM is based close to the N380 highway, and “take advantage of any opportunity” to attack. 

Rwandan forces have been deployed in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province since July 2021, following an ISM attack on Palma town that led to the suspension of the nearby liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. The 20 billion US dollar project is potentially transformative for Mozambique’s economy and society. Troops were deployed one month before the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), with frontline troops from Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, and Tanzania. In that time, Rwanda has made a significant contribution to controlling the near eight-year Islamist insurgency. In doing so, they have built a reputation for effective counter-insurgency while centering civilian protection in their operations. Almost four years later, SAMIM has withdrawn from Cabo Delgado, while Rwanda’s troop numbers have doubled. 

Author: Peter Bofin