RWANDAN FORCES STEP UP TO FILL AFRICA’S SECURITY GAPS

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, 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. By Military Africa

Rwanda Defence Force commissions 531 new special operations personnel . (Image by Rwandan MOD)

In Mali, for instance, the government demanded the exit of the UN’s MINUSMA force 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 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.

The Central African Republic 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.

Further south, in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, Rwanda has demonstrated 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 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.

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.