29 Nov 2020

Friday’s extraordinary SADC Organ Troika summit has resolved to work on expediting the establishment of a regional counter-terrorism centre for the bloc.

   This was revealed by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi in his closing remarks to the summit

  The President, who is SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security chairperson, said it was also agreed that national counter-terrorism coordination structures would be enhanced.

 He said the summit had deliberated on the importance of addressing the root causes of conflict given that the region was plagued by renewed challenges of intermittent hostilities.

“It emerged from our deliberations that in order for the organ to fulfill its core mandate of sustaining peace and security and promoting democracy in the region, it has to play a central role in addressing the structural causes of conflict. These include the socio-economic threats, as well as the root-causes of terrorism and violent extremism,” Dr Masisi said.

He further disclosed that the summit discussed the strategic and phased down withdrawal of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and that SADC committed to maintaining full security support to the DRC.

“This is because the ultimate objective of SADC involvement in the DRC is to assist the country to achieve sustainable peace and security, as well as to create an environment conducive for regional integration and socio-economic development,” said President Masisi.

  Meanwhile the President has hailed the summit, which also included troop contributing countries to the DRC, DRC itself as well as Mozambique, as positive. 

“In the overall, I can confidently say that the summit reinvigorated our conviction to rid our region of conflict and terrorism, so as to ensure that the years ahead are better, brighter and more prosperous for all our peoples,” Dr Masisi said.

SADC executive secretary, Dr Stergomena Tax said in addition to the commitment to working with the UN and supporting DRC by generating quick reaction forces from SADC Troop Contributing Countries, the summit also noted with concern, acts of terrorism in the region, particularly in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique.

The troika leaders, current organ chair Dr Masisi, his South African counterpart, incoming chair, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and outgoing chair, Zimbabwe’s Mr Emerson Mnangagwa, attended the summit, as did DRC President, Félix Tshisekedi and Malawi President, Dr Lazarus Chakwera.

Tanzania Vice President, Ms Samina Suluhu Hassan and Mozambique Minister of Defence, Mr Jaime Neto stood in for  their heads of state.ends