Mozambique - SADC - Rwanda: SADC Takes Credit for Military Successes in Mozambique, Ignores Paul Kagame's Troop Deployment

On July 9, 2021, the Rwandan government started deploying troops to Mozambique, in the Cabo Delgado Province, at the request of the government of Mozambique, to fight against growing insecurity and civil war. The deployment of Rwanda troops was not supported by key leaders of Southern African Development Community (SADC). Consequently, the Rwandan troops were put under Mozambique military command. SADC, of which Mozambique is a member, instead deployed its own troops, under the command of SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM). The deployment of Rwandan troops followed the May 26-27, 2021 visit to Rwanda by French President Emmanuel Macron. The deployment of Rwanda troops was requested by Mozambique president Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, as Chairperson of SADC. The key leaders of Southern African Development Community (SADC), did not supporrt the proposition to deploy Rwandan troops to Mozambique. SADC, of which Mozambique is a member, instead planned for the deployment its own troops, under the command of SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).

Afterwards, an Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held at Joaquim Chissano International Conference Centre in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique, on June 23, 2021. The Summit was officially led by Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, as Chairperson of SADC. Felipe Jacinto Nyusi had requested to allow the participation of Rwanda in the meeting. The request was overwhelmingly rejected by other SADC leaders, especially Angola, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. SADC leaders insisted that any troops to be sent into Mozambique must be under a SADC command.

When the SADC leaders expressed their resistance and refused the participation of Rwanda in their Summit meeting, the Rwandan troops were put under Mozambique military command ( see here: France-Rwanda-Mozambique: Paul Kagame Deploys Troops to Mozambique Following Visit by French President Emmanuel Macron) .

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SADC Leaders, Consistant, Refuse to Acknowledge the Contribution of Rwandan Troops in Mozambique

AfroAmerica Network received the statement dated January 12, 2022 on the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held in Lilongwe, Malawi and led by Malawi president Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, as Chairperson of SADC. In the statement the SADC leaders referred to the findings by and the conclusions from a SADC technical meeting held on January 11, 2022. The leaders thanked the SADC troops, under the command of SAMMI, for leading effective military and humanitarian operations and achieving the objectives in their intervention and peacekeeping in Mozambique.

Nowhere, in the statement, Rwanda, Rwandan troops, or Rwandan personnel are mentionned. Instead, the SADC leaders specifically thank the personnel from South Africa, Malawi, and Zimbabwe for an effective and efficient delivery of humanitarian aid in the regions impacted by the armed conflict in Mozambique. The statement even refers to the Mozambique region of Cabo Delgado, an area rich in oil, gas and minerals, where the Rwandan troops were allegedly deployed to, confirming that, contrary to highly publicized accounts by the Rwandan government and military, SADC troops, instead of Rwanda troops, fought against insurgency and terrorism and brought peace in the region.

According to AfroAmerica Network sources in Rwanda and Mozambique, the on-going civil war following a rebellion by an alleged islamic group in Mozambique was a major factor in the rapprochement between Emmanuel Macron and Paul Kagame. In fact, the Rwandan troops were deployed in the Mozambique region of Cabo Delgado, especially in Afungi, an area rich in oil, gas and minerals, under the exploitation by the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) owned by French multinationals.

Rwandan Military Leaders Not Happy With SADC STatement. What's Next.

The Rwanda government has always said that deployment of its troops was requested by Mozambique President Felipe Nyusi, not SADC. Behind the scene, according to AfroAmerics sources in Rwanda and Mozambique, it was the execution of an elaborate plan adopted as follows: Mozambique President had approached the Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame to request that he sends troops into Mozambique as peace keepers. France was then to help in convincing Paul Kagame and would provide enough funds for these operations. The successe by Rwandan troops were supposed to help the French company Total to resume its operations in Mozambique, suspended in 2021 after the site of the LNG project at Afungi was repeatedly attacked by the Islamic State rebels in late 2020 and early 2021, especially in March 2021 (see here: France-Rwanda: Was Emmanuel Macron visit to Paul Kagame in Rwanda about Mozambique?)..

Hence, according to AfroAmerica Network sources, close to the Rwandan military leaders, the SADC leaders' statement not acknowledging the contribution of Rwandan troops has led to disappointment, frustration, and anger towards SADC in general, specially against South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the SADC commission in charge of politics, defence, and security.

Sources close to Mozambique president Felipe Jacinto Nyusi's office have also informed AfroAmerica Network that Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame has been calling president Felipe Jacinto Nyusi and sending him envoys and agents, asking him what happened and why he did not oppose the publication of the statement that does not acknowledge and hails Rwandan troops' intervention.