Rwanda Punches Above Its Weight

Mozambique has been battling an Islamist insurgency in its northern Cabo Delgado province since 2017. The conflict has disrupted important international energy projects in the region and forced nearly 1 million people from their homes. It has also brought foreign military forces to help Mozambique fight the militants, including, perhaps surprisingly, an independent Rwandan contingent.

In 2019, the Ansar Sunnah militant group in Cabo Delgado pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, joining the global terror network as one of its southernmost affiliates. During a renewed offensive in 2020, it seized control of several cities and towns in the region, sparking fears of rapid expansion across northeastern Mozambique and prompting a massive exodus. In response, Rwanda sent troops.

While Rwanda may seem an unlikely military power, it has made significant strides since the 1994 genocide. Rwandan forces have deployed on African Union and United Nations peacekeeping missions, including in Sudan and the Central African Republic. Despite its small size, Rwanda is the fifth-largest contributor to U.N. peacekeeping missions, and the second-largest in Africa. Rwandan forces have developed a reputation for discipline and efficiency and have demonstrated success in counterinsurgency operations.

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