27 Oct 2015

The just ended Botswana/ Namibia Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) on Defence and Security, has raised a concern about the prevailing situation in Lesotho following the political impasse between the ruling coalition and the opposition. 

In a joint statement signed by Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi and his Namibian counterpart Minister of Defence, Mr Penda Ya Ndakolo, before addressing the media shortly stated that the commission gave its full support to the SADC Commission of Inquiry in Lesotho.

The commission, said the statement, aimed at establishing facts on the instability in the country with a view to restore peace and stability in the Mountain Kingdom.

The commission further notes with deep concern the developments in Mozambique in relation to governance issues between the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique and the Mozambique Resistance Movement .

In view of this, the commission encouraged the government of Mozambique to explore the most effective means to finding a lasting solution. Further, the commission expressed a wish to participate in the process.

Meanwhile the commission noted with satisfaction the improvement of the security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In this regard, it commended SADC, the International Conference on the Great Lakes region, the African Union and the United Nations for their efforts at finding lasting solution to the conflict in DRC.

The commission, however notes the breakdown of talks between the government and the opposition parties and expressed its desire for a negotiated solution which would pave way for the holding of local, municipal, senatorial and presidential elections scheduled for December 2015, January and November 2016 respectively.

On a similar issue, the commission noted with concern, the volatile and unpredictable situation in South Sudan where the parties to the conflict continue to violate the peace agreement put in place to bring peace and stability in the country.

On the continental front, the commission expresses concern at security challenges posed by ISIS in the Maghreb Region, BOKO Haram in West Africa and Al Shabab in East Africa, which continue to disrupt normal life in these regions and threaten to destabilise the region.

Nevertheless, the commission is optimistic that the intervention of the international community including the United Nations, African Union and the relevant regional economic communities will succeed in restoring peace in these regions.

The 25^th JPC will be held in Namibia next year on a date and venue still to be determined. Ends