BDF troops in Mozambique prepare to return home
22 Dec 2023
Government is preparing to withdraw the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) troops deployed at Cabo Delgado under the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).
Minister of Defence and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi said during a recent media briefing, explaining that the decision followed the 42nd Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads State and Government, which had resolved that SAMIM should end by July next year.
Initially, troops were to stay for a period of three months, but the mission was extended for another six months with member states agreeing to a possible drawdown by July next year, Mr Mmusi said.
Since the deployment, Mr Mmusi said SAMIM attained several milestones towards bringing peace and stability in Cabo Delgado including dislodging terrorists from their bases, seizing weapons and equipment as well as recapturing of villages, which had created a relatively secure environment for safer passage of humanitarian support.
He said the community had also developed confidence in SAMIM forces and felt more secure.
Nonetheless, the minister said Botswana would continue to support SADC in its endeavours to attain regional peace and stability because the country attached great importance to regional and international peace and security.
“As a country, we remain actively engaged in advancing regional integration agenda that furthers peace and stability in the SADC region,” said Mr Mmusi.
The SAMIM followed SADC summit held in Maputo, Mozambique on June 23, 2021, which condemned acts of terrorism and violent extremism in the Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique and agreed to deploy SADC Standby Force, Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) as SADC Mission in Mozambique.
Mr Mmusi also talked about murder and suicide incidents experienced by the BDF among its serving members.
That, he said was despite BDF efforts in deploying chaplains, social welfare officers, psychiatrists and clinical psychologists to offer counselling services and psycho-social support to members in garrisons and operational deployments.
In response, the BDF has increased personnel offering psycho-social support services and continue to conduct series of mass lectures on mental health throughout BDF installations, said Mr Mmusi. Ends
Source : BOPA
Author : Bonang Masolotate
Location : Gaborone
Event : Press Brief
Date : 22 Dec 2023
Related News
04 Apr 2026
03 Apr 2026
Government provides relief on fuel costs
01 Apr 2026
