29 Nov 2020

The Extraordinary Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has resolved to work towards a strengthened security climate in the region.

Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, who is also the Chairperson of the organ’s ministerial committee, Dr Lemogang Kwape said at the closure of the meeting on November 26 evening in Gaborone that a number of decisions were adopted for presentation to the Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit.

He said though the SADC region had been relatively peaceful and stable, the meeting acknowledged that there were emerging security challenges, noting, in particular, the conflict developing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique.

He said they discussed at length the strategies that could be employed to effectively address the security challenges confronting the region, adding that one of the initiatives they had considered and approved was the establishment of the SADC Regional Counter Terrorism Centre.

“This was prompted by the need for the region to have a common and coordinated approach to prevent acts of terrorism, which were global in nature,” Dr Kwape added.

He further related that the meeting discussed and proposed the reconfiguration of the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in the DRC.

“I am confident that the decisions we have reached will not only strengthen the FIB capability, but will also effectively address our fears of the possibility of a weakened FIB post the withdrawal of United Nations troops from the DRC. This will further enhance our relations with the UN,” Dr Kwape remarked. 

The meeting was attended by defence and foreign affairs portfolio ministers from the region, among them the incoming chair of the ministerial committee of the organ, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Dr Naledi Pandor and her Zimbabwean counterpart, the previous regional chairperson, Mr Sibusiso Moyo.

A meeting of senior government officials from the region preceded the minister’s meeting, to pave the way for the Extraordinary Troika Summit for heads of state, which was slated for Friday. ENDS