It is the epilogue of a confrontation that lasted all summer between the member states of the European Union (EU). On Monday, November 18, the Twenty-seven adopted a new allocation of 20 million euros, within the framework of the European Fund for Peace (EFF), to support the deployment of Rwandan forces in the province of Cabo Delgado, in Mozambique – a country in amid a post-electoral crisis since Daniel Chapo’s disputed victory in the October 9 presidential elections. This is the renewal of a first aid decided in 2022, which already amounts to 20 million euros.
According to the Foreign Affairs Council, this “The aid will allow the acquisition of individual equipment and cover the costs related to the strategic airlift necessary to support the Rwandan deployment in Cabo Delgado”. This deployment of the Rwandan army began in July 2021, at the request of the Mozambican authorities, in order to support the fight against jihadist groups. In addition, the EU also finances the Mozambican armed forces with 89 million euros.
France and Portugal, but also the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, pushed to renew this financing. The latter guarantees that this measure “demonstrates the EU’s support for “African solutions to African problems” and will serve the EU’s interests in the region as part of the global fight against terrorism.”
Belgium, for its part, has slowed down in recent months, before finally abstaining during the vote on the decision. In a press release, he explains that, “While supporting the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado and wishing to adopt a constructive and unitary approach within the EU, Belgium, by its abstention, wishes to underline the importance of respecting the United Nations Charter ».
It is evident that Belgium does not want to help the Rwandan army, currently involved in the war in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where it supports the rebellion of the March 23 Movement (M23). As the UN has shown, we remember in Brussels, “The Rwandan defense troops (RDF) are located on the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which constitutes a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
Belgium “consistently condemns Rwanda’s support for the M23, calls on the RDF to withdraw from eastern DRC and urges Rwanda and the DRC to ease their tensions and participate in good faith in regional mediation processes, including that in Luanda. This position is shared by the European Union.”recalls Belgian diplomacy in a press release.
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