Source: European Parliament
Council decision (CFSP) 2024/2880 on an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the deployment of the Rwanda Defence Force in Mozambique covers the acquisition of non-lethal individual equipment for the Rwandan troops (RDF) deployed in Cabo Delgado and the costs of transporting staff, equipment and supplies between Rwanda and Mozambique.
The RDF was deployed at the request of the Government of the Republic 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).
In July 2024, the EU imposed restrictive measures on nine individuals and one entity responsible for acts that constitute serious human rights violations and abuses in the DRC and for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the eastern DRC. Notably, it imposed restrictive measures against the Deputy Commander of the Special Force Command of the RDF.
Each assistance measure adopted within the framework of the European Peace Facility includes robust safeguards, which are duly implemented by the High Representative of the Union in the arrangements with the beneficiary to ensure the end users’ compliance with the requirements and conditions established by the Council.
This was the case for the initial assistance measure as well as for the top-up adopted on 18 November 2024. Failure to comply with international law may result in the suspension or termination of the assistance measure.
The EPF assistance measure is duly circumscribed. It is not intended to support specific individuals or the RDF as a whole, but to sustain the RDF units deployed in Mozambique’s northern province of Cabo Delgado, with the full support of the Mozambican authorities.