21 Dec 2021

The Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) is to submit a report that will map the way forward on the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).

This was said by RCM head Brigadier General Bruce Thobane on Monday when briefing Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi, who is on an official trip to Mozambique.

He described RCM as a coordinating centre for the support SAMIM was rendering to Mozambique and a link between countries that had contributed troops to the mission and the SADC Secretariat.

Reporting to head of mission and SADC executive secretary, RCM was responsible for coordinating all stakeholders and producing reports that informed both SADC and SAMIM leadership on how operations could move forward and to that end conducted regular assessments, said Brigadier General Thobane.

“We do produce regular assessment reports that inform the leaders on the mission’s way forward,” he said adding that one report had been shared and another was on the way.

Brig. General Thobane explained that establishment of the mechanism was recommended by a technical assessment team that went to Mozambique before the deployment of SAMIM troops.

This, he said, was critical in ascertaining that key operational issues were duly submitted to the force commander on the ground.

Turning to challenges, he said they mostly emanated from the fact that the mechanism was the first of its kind and therefore all were learning on the go.

Brig. General Thobane said the challenges were basically a result of mistrust between RCM and stakeholders.

Often times, entities preferred going straight to the source for operational insights instead of going through RCM, he said.

However, he said a number of milestones had been registered.    

Brig. General Thobane explained that the structure comprised representatives of the personnel contributing countries, Mozambique military as well as police and security organs within the region.

Personnel contributing countries are Botswana, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, United Republic of Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia.

He said SAMIM, aimed at supporting Mozambique to combat terrorism and acts of violent extremism in its Cabo Delgado Province, was initially for a period of three months.

The mission, which expired October 15, was extended by another three months.

“The decision to extend the mission’s mandate is intended to ensure a full clearance of the areas freed from the terrorists and establish security as some of the territories had been occupied for over a year.

We need to consolidate the reconstruction of wrecked infrastructures for a safe return of displaced people,” Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi was quoted as saying soon after the extension was announced early October. Ends