Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001146/2025
to the Council
Rule 144
Rima Hassan (The Left), Manon Aubry (The Left), Majdouline Sbai (Verts/ALE), Carola Rackete (The Left), Marina Mesure (The Left), Matjaž Nemec (S&D), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Ilaria Salis (The Left), Per Clausen (The Left), Damien Carême (The Left), Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE), Merja Kyllönen (The Left), Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left), Nikos Papandreou (S&D), Anthony Smith (The Left), Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left), Jaume Asens Llodrà (Verts/ALE), Marc Botenga (The Left), Catarina Vieira (Verts/ALE), Emma Fourreau (The Left), Mimmo Lucano (The Left)
The EU has maintained military cooperation with Rwanda, particularly in relation to operations in Mozambique, despite findings indicating Rwandan support for the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In November 2024, the Council granted an additional EUR 20 million to Rwanda for the deployment of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province.
However, UN reports have documented that RDF commanders Major-General Eugène Nkubito (report S/2024/432), Major-General Alexis Kagame (report S/2022/967) and Major-General Emmy Ruvusha (report S/2023/431), deployed in Mozambique, have been involved in destabilising operations in eastern DRC by supporting the M23 rebels, as well as in the current security crisis.
In the light of these UN reports:
- 1.Is the Council aware of the accusations levelled against Rwandan officers involved in operations in the DRC and Mozambique?
- 2.What steps has the Council taken to verify the facts and ensure that EU military aid does not contribute to human rights violations?
- 3.Does it intend to suspend military cooperation with Rwanda until the facts have been fully investigated and resolved?
Submitted: 18.3.2025