Rwanda opens private security company in Cabo Delgado, as business interests widen
Rwanda opens private security company in Cabo Delgado, as business interests widen
The Rwandan ruling party adds to its portfolio of investments in the province
Good afternoon. Today Zitamar reveals the growing extent of Rwanda’s business interests in Mozambique — and it’s not just any old Rwandan business investing. Macefield Ventures is the international arm of Crystal Ventures, which is in turn the business arm of the Rwandan Patriotic Front — the ruling party of President Paul Kagame.
The revelations will play into persistent suspicions that Rwanda’s intervention in Cabo Delgado is not just charitable assistance for Mozambique’s counter-insurgency operation, but that the country — or at least, its political elite — will want some quid pro quo.
Intriguingly, the latest company that Macefield has set up in Mozambique is a private security company, which is expected to bid for contracts with the TotalEnergies-led Mozambique LNG project. ISCO, the private security company which already operates in Rwanda and Zimbabwe, is staffed largely by former members of Rwanda’s police and military, according to well-informed sources.
President Kagame reassured Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi in Addis Ababa at the weekend that Rwanda’s forces are in Cabo Delgado to stay, at least until Mozambique can get a handle on the situation. But the establishment of ISCO in the province raises the possibility that Rwanda’s government forces could, in time, be replaced by Rwandan private security — albeit owned by the ruling party — which could make some things simpler, both for the energy companies needing to contract security, and for the Mozambique government which is facing questions over the implications for national sovereignty of having a foreign country secure its territory.
Mozambique also has its other regional allies to think about, too. This week’s edition of Cabo Ligado, also out today, reports that Tanzania has deployed troops to Mozambique outside the regional bloc SADC’s mission, but under a bilateral agreement. As the report notes, Tanzania is unlikely to be indifferent to Rwanda’s continuing presence just across its southern border — especially as Tanzania moves closer to monetizing its own Rovuma Basin gas reserves.
Agenda:
Today: Start of the 7th session of the Mozambican parliament
Tomorrow: Public consultation on a heavy sands exploration project in Jangamo district, Inhambane province, by mining company Mutamba Mineral Sands
9h, Hotel Casa do Capitão, Inhambane city
13h, Nahlicocuane community, Jangamo district
The latest from Zitamar News:
Rwanda opens private security company in Cabo Delgado, as business interests widen
The holding company of Rwanda’s ruling party has opened a private security company in Mozambique, to add to a growing list of commercial interests in the province of Cabo Delgado
Mozambique oil and gas attracted $18bn investment in 2017-2021
More than $18 billion was invested in oil and gas projects in Mozambique in the four years from 2017 to 2021, according to a new report
Cabo Ligado Weekly: 13-19 February 2023
Heavy rainfall restricts movements of insurgents and security forces
Tanzania deploys troops to Nangade under bilateral agreement with Mozambique
Security around Mocímboa da Praia remains uncertain
From the Zitamar Live Blog:
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Current projections indicate that 'Freddy' is expected to hit Mozambique as a severe tropical storm late tomorrow, between Inhassoro and Vilankulo in Inhambane province
Today’s headlines:
Quelimane port records weak cargo handling
Government decrees red alert for rain and Cyclone Freddy
Fire destroys independent media house in Quelimane
Police train staff to protect upcoming electoral cycle
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