09 Aug 2021

The SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) is a significant milestone towards addressing obstacles to aspirations for the achievement of  regional integration and socio-economic development. 

   President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said this when launching the mission in Mozambique’s city of Pemba yesterday.

   “Its significance is further amplified by the fact that it is the first major peacekeeping mission successfully planned and executed by our regional body, SADC,” he said. 

    He said the mission fulfilled the long-standing wish of Africa’s forefathers who worked tirelessly to see a politically free Africa with the capability to solve its own problems.

    The launch, he said, highlighted the camaraderie existing among SADC member states which had made the mission possible. 

   Turning to the soldiers, President Masisi, who is SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security chairperson, said their presence in Mozambique was a clear reaffirmation of collective commitment to regional peace, stability and development.

   “...Your primary mandate here is to support Mozambique’s efforts in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism,” the President said.

    Dr Masisi reminded the troops that peacekeeping went far beyond keeping the peace as it involved ensuring protection of human rights and facilitating humanitarian assistance. 

    Their presence in Mozambique must therefore send a strong message of genuine protection and solidarity with the people of Mozambique, particularly in Cabo Delgado, he said. 

   Restoring peace and stability, he said, required enduring professionalism which was premised on loyalty, duty, discipline, integrity, personal courage, teamwork, espirit de corps, among others.

     Emphasising trust, the President said  it was a soldier’s key attribute that transcended borders and did not recognise different nationalities of soldiers in a mission.

     “As you fight the terrorists alongside each other, have the trust that you will protects each other. This is imperative in the effective and successful execution of your mission,” he said.

     Noting the deployment of women in the mission, the President said it was a celebration of SADC’s efforts towards gender equality.

   President Masisi said organising the mission had not been easy due to the COVID-19 pandemic which had reportedly infected over 200 million people globally, claimed many lives while others had been negatively affected by its consequence. 

    However, amid the challenges, SADC, as a collective, agreed that restoring peace and stability in the region was also a priority, the President said. 

      Dr Masisi said the mission’s deployment was in line with the principle of subsidiarity as encapsulated in the African Union Constitutive Act and also premised on the United Nations Charter to restore international peace and security. 

     He acknowledged the presence of Rwandese troops in Mozambique in response to the country’s plea for assistance. ends