10 Jan 2022

Botswana would like to see the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) extended to ensure its full delivery of its mandate.

This came to light Monday as Acting President Mr Slumber Tsogwane spoke to the media ahead of his departure to Lilongwe Malawi, where is attending the SADC Extraordinary Summit of Heads of States and Government, slated for tomorrow.

The heads of state are meeting to review the mandate of the mission. Mr Tsogwane said he was hopeful SADC would extend the mission to bring peace and security to the people of Mozambique.

Asked if Botswana soldiers assigned under the mission would return home should the SAMIM tenure be extended, Mr Tsogwane said Botswana would maintain it’s presence in Mozambique while the mission continued.

He explained SAMIM’s mandate was to combat acts of terrorism and violent extremism in the Carbo Delgabo region, which would ensure freedom and security for the people of Mozambique, and that the mission needed to achieve its goal.

To that end, he expressed hope the SADC heads of state would elect to extend the mission.

Meanwhile from Lilongwe, Pako Lebanna reports that Mr Tsogwane, who arrived yesterday, is ahead of the extraordinary summit, this morning attending the SADC troika of Heads of State and Government to discuss regional peacekeeping efforts and security in Mozambique.

The Troika currently comprises Botswana, South Africa and Namibia, but other heads of state who will attend include those of Mozambique and other countries that have sent personnel to SAMIM namely, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho and Zambia. The SADC Council of Ministers comprising regional ministers of foreign affairs and international cooperation will also meet for deliberations later today.

Ministers Dr Lemogang Kwape and Mr Kagiso Mmusi of International Affairs and Cooperation, and Defense Justice and Security respectively, as well as senior government officials, who are accompanying the Acting President will attend the council meet. Since it was deployed six months ago, SAMIM has recorded a number of achievements including reducing the terrorist threat and steadily increasing peace and security. Ends