Good afternoon. Concerns on the part of Jean-Christophe Rufin, the independent human rights expert appointed by TotalEnergies, over the French company’s relationship with the Mozambican military have translated into fears in Mozambique that the Mozambican military is being edged out of its role in securing north-eastern Cabo Delgado. But those fears are misplaced, as we explain below.
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Rwandan president Paul Kagame has reshuffled his senior military personnel, including appointing a new minister of defence. He has also, according to a statement from his office, appointed a new JTF Commander in Mozambique, one Alex Kagame (apparently no relation of Paul).
The announcement is likely to fuel concerns in Mozambique of a comprehensive Rwandan takeover of security in north-eastern Cabo Delgado. Ever since the publication last month of the report into human rights in Cabo Delgado, commissioned by TotalEnergies and written by Jean-Christophe Rufin, concerns have been spreading in Mozambique that the French energy company wants to kick the Mozambican army out of the Joint Task Force — the JTF — which protects the Mozambique LNG project at Afungi. The sight of Rwandan president Paul Kagame appointing a Rwandan commander of the JTF will add fuel to that fire.
