Watch: SADC Mission in Mozambique has mandate extended, SADC Mission in DRC to deploy by 30 September

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Watch: SADC Mission in Mozambique has mandate extended, SADC Mission in DRC to deploy by 30 September

1:03 CAT | 12 Jul 2023

Screen grab: Namibian Presidency

Statement by His Excellency Dr Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia and Chairperson of the SADC organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation on the occasion of the SADC Extra-ordinary Organ Troika Summit Plus the SADC Troika, the Force Intervention Brigade Troop Contributing Countries, the SADC mission in Mozambique Personnel Contributing Countries, and the Republic of Mozambique.

Windhoek, Republic of Namibia

11 July 2023

Your Excellencies,

Our Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit Plus the SADC Troika, the Force Intervention Brigade Troop Contributing Countries, the SADC Mission in Mozambique Personnel Contributing Countries, and the Republic of Mozambique, considered the Security Situation in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Security Situation in Northern Province of Cabo Delgado, in the Republic of Mozambique. Our collective resolve as a Bloc is that security, safety and the stability of our Region must be safeguarded, at all cost.

The terrorist activities that have continued to plague the Eastern DRC have resulted in the death of well over five (5) million people, and millions others displaced. The impact of the conflict in Eastern DRC has been felt across our Region, as many of our countries are hosting refugees from DRC; rendering them the necessary support to start new lives.

We owe our debt to the men and women in uniform, under the command of the SADC Force Intervention Brigade, in particular from the Republics of Malawi and South Africa, and the United Republic of Tanzania, for their tireless efforts towards the restoration of peace and stability in that Region.

On 8 May 2023, our Region resolved to redouble our efforts in support of the DRC, and to deploy a Brigade Plus, under a SADC Regional Command. The SADC Mission in DRC will be deployed by 30 September 2023, even as the DRC prepares for its national elections on 20 December 2023.

We are cognizant of the fact that a military approach is not the only solution to the situation in the Eastern DRC, and in this regard, SADC called for a coordinated approach to all the peace processes initiated over the last years.

The resultant Quadripartite Summit, including SADC, the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICLGR), under the auspices of the African Union, with the support of the United Nations, agreed to a framework that is aimed at promoting coherence of the existing peace initiatives, with a clear division of labour and agreed timelines.

Emphasis will therefore also be placed on the political and diplomatic front, so that the enemies that have been plaguing DRC can come to the table, and ensure a lasting solution.

Your Excellencies,

We have registered much success in addressing the terrorist threats in Northern Mozambique. The overall security situation in Cabo Delgado has relatively been calm, and controlled which has thus made it possible for about 420 000 (four hundred and twenty thousand) Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to return to their places of origin and more are expected.

We thank our gallant fighters who have vowed to defend our Region, against all threats; we equally pay homage to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Despite the relative success that has been garnered, our Summit has decided to extend the SADC Mission in Mozambique, in order to ensure that the relevant authorities in Mozambique receive the necessary support, before the Mission exits.

We thank all relevant stakeholders and partners that have supported the Republic of Mozambique in restoring peace and stability in its Northern Province.

I thank you for your attention.

Source: Namibian Presidency