Peacekeeping mission extended

SOUTHERN African Development Community (SADC) leaders have decided to extend the mission in Mozambique after heads of state and government met to review the progress of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).

Regional heads of state have agreed to extend the initital six month-long deployment of the intervention force in northern Mozambique for another six months.

The Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community was held in Lilongwe, Malawi, on Wednesday.

The SADC chair, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, said the region must not just neutralise terrorists in Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique, but there must be a comprehensive plan to rebuild the northern part of the country.

Prior to the Extraordinary Summit, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, on Tuesday convened an Extraordinary SADC Organ Troika Summit, comprising heads of state and government from Organ Troika members, namely Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, and it was attended by Mozambique.

In accordance with the SADC Treaty, the SADC Summit is responsible for the overall policy direction and control of functions of the community, ultimately making it the policy-making institution of the SADC.

Furthermore, delegates commended the SADC region for its unwavering commitment to peace and security and for using its own resources in addressing and combating terrorism in Cabo Delgado, which is a precedent on the African continent.

Insurgents linked to the Islamic State have staged attacks since October 2017 in Cabo Delgado, a coastal province rich in natural gas reserves and host to an estimated $60 billion (R923.3 billion) worth of international investment in gas projects, according to Voice of America.

The violence has left at least 3 100 dead, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, which tracks political violence around much of the world, reports said.

The summit was also attended by the chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, the Ministerial Committee of the Organ, ministers and senior officials from SADC member states, the SADC Executive Secretary, the leadership of SADC Mission in Mozambique and the Heads of Defence and Security Sectors.

According to a statement issued by the regional bloc, the summit considered the report of the Organ Troika Summit plus Personnel Contributing Countries and Mozambique, and commended the SAMIM leadership and the troops for conducting successful operations and for the achievements recorded since the deployment of the mission in July.

They also expressed their condolences and sympathies to the countries and families of personnel who lost their lives while on deployment with the SADC Mission in Mozambique and wished those wounded in action a speedy recovery.

The summit commended member states that had provided personnel, equipment and financial support, as well as for making additional pledges towards the deployment of the SADC Mission in Mozambique, for their commitment to regional peace and security, and especially the enormous sacrifice made despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on members’ economies.

The summit commended acts of solidarity exhibited in the form of food pledges made by Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe in order to alleviate the suffering experienced by the internally displaced persons in Cabo Delgado province.

The summit approved the Framework for Support to the Republic of Mozambique in addressing terrorism, which outlines, among others, actions for consolidating peace and security, and the socio-economic recovery of Cabo Delgado province.

“The Summit noted the good progress made since the deployment of the SADC Mission in Mozambique and extended its mandate with associated budgetary implications, and that it will continue to monitor the situation going forwards,” read a statement.