Source: European Parliament
The European Peace Facility (EPF) EUR 20 million top-up support measure covers the acquisition of non-lethal individual equipment for the Rwanda’s troops (RDF) deployed in Cabo Delgado and the costs of the transport of staff, equipment and supplies between Rwanda and Mozambique[1].
The RDF was deployed at the request of the Government of Mozambique and was instrumental in tackling the security crisis in Cabo Delgado.
Regardless of the assistance measure in question, the EU condemned Rwanda’s support for M23 and military presence on Congolese territory, and urged Rwanda to end its cooperation with M23 and withdraw its military forces from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)[2].
It has also sanctioned two Rwandan military officers for their responsibility in sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.
Under the EPF, each assistance measure includes robust safeguards, which are duly implemented in the arrangements with the beneficiary to ensure compliance by the end users with the requirements and conditions established by the Council[3].
This has been the case for the initial assistance measure as well as for the top-up adopted in November 2024. Failure to comply with international law and the said arrangements may result in the suspension or termination of the support. To date, the RDF deployment in Mozambique has fully complied with these arrangements.
Major General Emmy Ruvusha, while mentioned by the United Nations (UN) group of experts[4], was not sanctioned by either the UN or the EU, nor is he an indicted war criminal.
The EPF assistance measure is not intended for support to specific individuals or to the RDF as a whole, but to sustain the RDF deployment in Cabo Delgado, with the full support of the Mozambican authorities.
- [1] Press release of 18 November 2024, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/11/18/european-peace-facility-council-tops-up-support-to-the-deployment-of-the-rwanda-defence-force-to-fight-terrorism-in-cabo-delgado/
- [2] Eastern DRC: Statement by the Spokesperson on the latest developments of 6 January 2025, https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eastern-drc-statement-spokesperson-latest-developments_en
- [3] Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 of 22 March 2021 establishing a European Peace Facility, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2015/528, Article 62.
- [4] Final report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n23/123/80/pdf/n2312380.pdf