# Rwandan forces step up to fill Africa’s security gaps

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2025/08/rwandan-forces-step-up-to-fill-africas-security-gaps/
- Published: 2025-08-10T22:06:22+01:00
- Author: Military Africa

Across the African continent, where instability persists in regions scarred by civil
wars, insurgencies, and resource conflicts, the United Nations has faced mounting
pressure to withdraw or reduce its peacekeeping operations. Missions that once deployed
tens of thousands of troops to stabilise hotspots like Mali, the [Democratic Republic of Congo](https://www.military.africa/2024/11/us-calls-on-rwandan-troops-to-leave-dr-congo/),
and Sudan have encountered criticism for their inability to prevent violence, often
due to inadequate mandates, funding shortfalls, and a lack of political will from
contributing nations.

In Mali, for instance, the government demanded the [exit of the UN’s MINUSMA force](https://www.military.africa/2023/06/mali-demands-end-to-minusma-the-way-forward/)
in 2023, citing failures to curb jihadist threats and accusations of economic exploitation
by foreign troops. Similar frustrations have echoed in other areas, where peacekeepers
have been faulted for not adapting to evolving warfare tactics, such as the use 
of improvised explosives and asymmetric attacks by non-state actors. This retreat
has left voids in security provision, prompting African states to seek alternative
arrangements. Into these gaps has stepped the Rwanda Defence Force, a [compact yet capable military](https://www.military.africa/2023/06/rwanda-reveals-major-military-shakeup/)
that has built a track record of rapid, effective interventions through bilateral
agreements, offering a model that contrasts with the cumbersome multilateral frameworks
of the past.

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The [Central African Republic](https://www.military.africa/2024/08/rwandas-ongoing-military-training-in-car/)
serves as a prime example of Rwanda’s approach. Since 2020, Rwandan troops have 
taken on multiple roles in this landlocked nation plagued by rebel factions and 
political turmoil. Under a bilateral defence pact with Bangui, the Rwanda Defence
Force has deployed personnel to safeguard senior government figures from rebel assaults,
while also mentoring emerging Central African soldiers through training programmes
aimed at building local capacity.

More than 2,000 Rwandan peacekeepers contribute to the United Nations Multidimensional
Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic, known as MINUSCA,
where they conduct patrols and support stabilisation efforts. Brigadier General 
Ronald Rwivanga, the RDF’s spokesperson, has described the current environment as
relatively calm, attributing this to successful operations that pushed back rebel
advances. Rwandan forces now secure President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the capital
city of Bangui, and key locations around it, including the president’s residences
in Damara. This protective umbrella has allowed the government to focus on governance
rather than constant defence, with RDF units repelling threats that could otherwise
destabilise the fragile administration.

Recent updates from 2025 indicate ongoing commitments, including the decoration 
of Rwandan contingents with presidential medals of appreciation in July for their
service, and visits by Central African military leaders to Kigali to deepen cooperation.
These efforts have not only quelled immediate dangers but also fostered longer-term
military reforms, transforming the host nation’s armed forces through shared expertise
in tactics and discipline.

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Further south, in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, Rwanda has [demonstrated](https://www.military.africa/2023/03/rwanda-increase-troops-strenght-in-cabo-delgado/)
its ability to sustain operations where others have faltered. Deployed since 2021
at the invitation of the Mozambican government, Rwandan security forces [initially numbered around 1,000](https://www.military.africa/2021/07/cabo-delgado-rwanda-deploys-1000-troops-to-mozambique/)
but have since expanded to approximately 5,000 personnel, spreading their presence
across five districts. This growth occurred even as the Southern African Development
Community’s military mission, SAMIM, wrapped up its involvement, leaving Rwanda 
as the primary external partner in combating Islamic State-affiliated insurgents.

The terrorists continue to mount occasional raids, but the overall situation has
stabilised, with RDF operations forcing militants into remote, forested hideouts
where they struggle to resupply or coordinate. By severing access to the Indian 
Ocean coastline—a vital conduit for linking up with broader ISIS networks in Africa—
Rwandan troops have disrupted smuggling routes and communication lines. Coastal 
zones are now cleared, denying insurgents easy access to food and external support.
Brigadier General Rwivanga has emphasised how these tactics have weakened the enemy,
turning the dense vegetation that once aided ambushes into a trap for the militants
themselves. However, challenges persist; in June 2025, four Rwandan soldiers lost
their lives in an ambush, underscoring the risks involved.

Financial strains have also surfaced, with reports of delays in payments from Maputo
prompting concerns among oil companies like TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil, which 
rely on stability for their liquefied natural gas projects in the area. Despite 
such hurdles, Rwanda’s forces have facilitated the return of over 250,000 displaced
residents, reopened sea and air ports, and conducted community initiatives, such
as cleaning schools alongside local police, to build goodwill and integrate security
with development.

Rwanda’s engagements extend to multilateral frameworks as well, notably in South
Sudan, where about 1,650 troops serve under the United Nations Mission in South 
Sudan, or UNMISS. These peacekeepers undertake a range of duties, including routine
security patrols to deter violence, shielding civilians and internally displaced
persons from harm, and delivering humanitarian aid through logistics support. Their
civil-military activities further enhance impact, with medical outreaches treating
hundreds in displacement camps—such as a June 2025 effort that benefited 600 people
with treatments and health education—and educational workshops that promote community
resilience.

Infrastructure projects, like repairing roads and bridges, help connect isolated
areas, fostering economic recovery in a country still reeling from civil war. Rwandan
contingents have earned UN service medals for their dedication, with ceremonies 
in 2025 recognising their professionalism and contributions to stability. As the
largest police and troop contributor to UN operations overall—ranking third globally—
Rwanda brings a disciplined approach that bolsters the mission’s effectiveness, 
even as broader UN efforts grapple with mandates that sometimes prioritise protection
over robust enforcement.

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What sets Rwanda apart on a continent where most military interventions occur through
coalitions like those of the African Union or regional blocs is its readiness to
act unilaterally or via direct bilateral pacts. This method sidesteps the slow decision-
making processes that bog down multinational forces, enabling swift mobilisations
that address threats before they escalate. Federico Donelli, an assistant professor
of international relations at the University of Trieste in Italy, has noted that
such arrangements are simpler to oversee than operations under international bodies,
where conflicting agendas can dilute focus.

Rwandan analyst and lawyer Gatete Nyiringabo Ruhumuliza describes these as values-
driven bilateral missions, positioning them as the evolution of peacekeeping. He
points to the successes in the Central African Republic and Cabo Delgado as evidence
that this model pioneers a more agile future for interventions, one that aligns 
with host nations’ immediate needs without the overhead of broad consensus. Rwanda’s
deployments, while not without controversy—such as accusations in eastern DRC that
Kigali denies—highlight a pragmatic response to the UN’s waning footprint, where
economic motivations, host government pushback, and geopolitical tensions have eroded
traditional peacekeeping’s viability.

These accomplishments have elevated the Rwanda Defence Force’s standing as a formidable
entity. With around 35,000 soldiers, the RDF emphasises strength, discipline, and
technological proficiency, incorporating modern tools like drones and cyber capabilities
into its doctrine. Training programmes, such as the recent commissioning of 531 
special operations personnel in February 2025 after 11 months of rigorous preparation,
ensure readiness for diverse scenarios. This reputation extends beyond operations;
Rwanda’s military diplomacy seeks to recast the nation’s narrative from one defined
by the 1994 genocide to a proactive player in continental affairs.

As Donelli observes, Kigali aims to project itself as a reliable security provider,
leveraging deployments to forge economic ties, such as resource deals or infrastructure
partnerships, while enhancing its influence in forums like the African Union. In
a region where instability often deters investment, Rwanda’s interventions create
pockets of order that attract development, benefiting both host countries and Kigali’s
strategic goals. Yet, this expansion carries risks, including overstretch for a 
relatively small force and potential backlash if missions falter. Nonetheless, as
UN peacekeeping contracts amid critiques of its track record—failing to evolve with
hybrid threats or secure sustainable peace—Rwanda’s model offers a compelling alternative,
one that prioritises speed, autonomy, and results in addressing Africa’s enduring
security challenges.

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