Chissano and Guebuza want an SADC focused on combating terrorism

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Chissano and Guebuza want an SADC focused on combating terrorism

2:11 CAT | 18 Aug 2020

File photo: O País

The assumption of the SADC chairmanship by Mozambique is seen as a basic element in strengthening the fight against terrorism, at a time when Mozambique is a victim of this evil in Cabo Delgado.

Combating terrorism, localised conflicts and Covid-19 are the immediate challenges for the Southern African Development Community (SADC), according to former president of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano.

However, the agenda for the 40th SADC summit, which took place on Monday, did not include these topics, with the exception of Covid-19.

“The holding of this summit, in this (virtual) way, is a sign that there has been progress in our countries,” Joaquim Chissano said, explaining that the fact that this was an SADC summit could perhaps be seen as a reason for it not taking place, its member countries perhaps not having sufficiently developed technology.

“Southern African countries are newborns. It seemed that it was not possible to have this technology working.”

Despite referring to terrorism and military conflicts as some of the immediate challenges for SADC, Chissano argues that “the conflict (is internal to our country); we Mozambicans are addressing the issue and we expect to win”.

In turn, Armando Guebuza hopes that the new SADC chairmanship will take advantage of the Community’s experience in combating insurgency in the country.

“We hope that the SADC can also continue to look at these aspects in ways that will allow it to give even more value to the experience that the region itself has in facing situations of insecurity and terrorism,” he urges.

Regarding reactions to the 40th SADC summit, former executive secretary of the organisation Tomaz Salomão says that the organization’s member countries are aware of the challenges and will have to look at terrorism with the necessary neutrality and fight it seriously.

“This phenomenon affects Mozambique, but it also affects a neighbouring country, which coincidentally is the country that today handed over the chairmanship organization: the Republic of Tanzania. The organization’s defence, security and political affairs tToika will have to look at this issue with the necessary neutrality and remind the president of the organization what the troika thinks should be done,” Salomão offers.

Salomão also indicates Covid-19 as a topic on which SADC must assess its impact and seek immediate solutions.

“Let at least the member countries look at the aspects that most concern the region at the moment, within the framework of the three pillars, which are industrial development, infrastructure development and human capital,” he counsels, arguing that it is necessary to look at how Covid-19 affects the organisation’s ability to fulfil its responsibilities.

Tomaz Salomão – former SADC Executive Secretary

“The victim country, the country attacked, the country violated is Mozambique. This phenomenon affects Mozambique, but it also affects a neighbouring country, which coincidentally is the country that (yesterday) handed over the presidency of the organisation, which is the Republic of Tanzania. Everything indicates that the logistical rear, the logistical base for these terrorists to attack Mozambique is Tanzania. But it is also possible that Tanzania is a victim of these same terrorists who use this corridor to enter Mozambique crossing the Rovuma [river], due to the vulnerability of our borders. The organisation’s defence, security and political affairs Troika will have to look at this issue with the necessary neutrality and remind the president of the organisation what the troika thinks should be done, but in this organisation these things work on the basis of requests made by the member country.”

By José João

Source: O País