SANF 05 no 55
Kwame Nkrumah’s dream of a united Africa with a continental defence force is moving closer to reality almost 50 years later, with the training of sub-regional military forces for peacekeeping operations.
Southern Africa has been hosting sub-regional military training in some member states, most recently in Botswana where 3,300 soldiers from 12 countries participated in the Thokgamo (serenity) exercise in Maun.
Botswana’s President Festus Mogae said the joint military exercise demonstrated that the region has the will and capacity to secure its own future.
“Besides being positioned to react to local threats, this brigade will become the pillar of the all-African Standby Force, which is being established by the African Union.”
Mogae noted that southern Africa had been the arena of armed conflict in recent memory “as our people struggled to free themselves from the shackles of colonialism and apartheid, but today we are increasingly able to enjoy the fruits of sustained peace.
“From being a location of international concern and political rivalry, southern Africa has thus transformed into an example for others of what can be achieved through reconciliation and a common purpose.”
SADC states are increasingly engaged in international peace efforts, as recent events “have confirmed our global village is confronted with emerging threats that can only be effectively addressed if we are brave enough to see beyond what is parochial, so as to achieve a new multilateral consensus on securing our common destiny,” Mogae said.
“While Exercise Thokgamo has been a practical manifestation of regional self-reliance and Pan-African ideas, it is also evidence of the potential for wider multilateral partnerships in meeting global security challenges.”
At continental level, African countries have decided to form sub-regional military forces in North, East, South, Central and West Africa, through the African Union (AU) for use in collective security efforts.
The SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Prega Ramsamy, said the joint military exercise was a demonstration of SADC’s commitment to play an active role in the establishment and maintenance of a peaceful, stable and secure Africa.
“This exercise paves the way for the involvement of SADC in peacekeeping operations not only in southern Africa but also beyond the borders of our region, under the mandate of the UN and the African Union.”
Ramsamy said the SADC troops were briefed on regional cooperation, humanitarian relief operations and diplomatic aspects of peacekeeping, as well as joint operations on intelligence, hostage rescue and stress management.
The manoeuvres were organised by Botswana and France in terms of France’s Re-Enforcement of African Capabilities in Peacekeeping Programme (RECAMP), and were commanded by Brigadier Letsogile Motsumi of the Botswana Defence Forces.
All SADC member states participated in the exercise, with the exception of Mauritius and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Botswana Police Services were involved, as were 24 non-governmental organisations from the sub-region. (SARDC)
