Mozambique: SADC approves interim extension of SAMIM mandate

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Mozambique: SADC approves interim extension of SAMIM mandate

7:13 CAT | 14 Jul 2022

FILE -·Illustrative photo. The extraordinary summit of SADC’s security troikaheld today , July 14, decided to extend the mandate of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) beyond July 15 when it was going to end. [File photo: SADC Mission In Mozambique - SAMIM]

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) provisionally extended its military mission fighting armed groups in northern Mozambique, the organisation announced on Thursday.

The decision was made during an extraordinary summit of the “troika” of SADC heads of state and government, which met today in a virtual format and in which Mozambique was represented by its president, Filipe Nyusi.

“Summit approved an interim extension of the SAMIM mandate beyond 15July2022, to facilitate continuation of SAMIM operation,” said a statement released by the presidency of Mozambique.

The provisional extension of the deployment of Southern African troops will last until”the review and consideration of a comprehensive SAMIM report by the Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled to be held from 17-18 August 2022, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.,” the statement said.

The ‘troika’ praised the role and efforts of the president of South Africa and the SADC body on politics, defence and security cooperation, Cyril Ramaphosa, in maintaining lasting peace and security in the region, the statement said.

At today’s meeting, the SADC leaders observed a minute’s silence in honour of former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who died on the 8th, in Barcelona.

SAMIM was deployed by SADC in July 2021 at the invitation of the Mozambican government .

At least eight SADC countries have contributed troops to the 3,000-member regional force. These are Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

Thursday’s meeting was chaired by SADC chairperson and Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera and was attended by Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi, Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.

Cyril Ramaphosa chairs the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas but has been terrorised since 2017 by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

There are about 800,000 internally displaced people due to the conflict, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and about 4,000 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project.

Since July 2021, an offensive by government troops with the support of Rwanda, later joined by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), allowed to recover areas where rebels were present. Still, their flight has provoked new attacks in other districts used as passage or refuge.

Source: Lusa / SADC