SANF 21 no 8
Acts of extremism and terrorism that have left many people dead and homeless in northern Mozambique will not be allowed to continue without a “proportionate regional response.”
This was said by leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at their Extra-Ordinary Double Troika Summit held 8 April in Maputo.
To this end, the Summit has agreed to deploy a technical team to Mozambique to assess and investigate the security situation on the ground.
The SADC Organ technical team to Mozambique is expected to present its findings in late April where a regional response will be made to address the security situation in that country.
According to the United Nations, more than 670,000 people have been displaced in the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique since the beginning of the insurgency in 2017.
On 24 March alone, when the terrorist attacks targeted the town of Palma, media reports claimed that 55 people were killed and buildings destroyed throughout the town.
Various groups including those with Islamic fundamentalism, especially a group known as Ahlu Sunna Wa-Jama have claimed responsibility for some of these attacks.
SADC leaders said “such heinous attacks” against innocent civilians, women and children should stop, adding that the region is ready to quell the attacks.
“The Double Troika Summit… noted with concern, the acts of terrorism perpetrated against innocent civilians, women and children in some of the districts of Cabo Delgado Province; condemned the terrorist attacks in strongest terms; and affirmed that such heinous attacks cannot be allowed to continue without a proportionate regional response,” reads part of a strong worded communique released soon after the summit.
The leaders said a Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ will be convened on 28 April, where a report based on the findings by the technical team will be presented to the Organ Troika Summit on 29 April for a regional response to the situation in Mozambique.
There are a number of responses that SADC can make including helping Mozambique with military and intelligence information to fight the insurgency since such acts of terrorism are transboundary.
Another available response is to provide military personnel and equipment to combat the instability, as well as deploying the SADC Standby Force.
However, whatever regional response is decided by SADC, it will take into consideration the sovereignty of Mozambique.
Therefore, as Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has said, there are some aspects of the crisis in the Cabo Delgado Province that Mozambique will tackle on its own.
“Those who come from outside will not come to replace us. They will come to support us. It is not about empty pride. It is about a sense of sovereignty,” he said.
President Nyusi, who is also the SADC chairperson said with continued support from the region, the acts of extremism and terrorism in his country will be defeated.
“The terrorists have been expelled from Palma,” he said, adding that “we do not intend to proclaim victory because we are in an ongoing fight against terrorism, but we are sure that if we are united, we will win.”
SADC has already pledged its commitment to find a lasting solution to the crisis in Mozambique, noting that continued acts of extremism and terrorism in the Cabo Delgado Province is an affront to peace and security not only in Mozambique, but also in the region.
Furthermore, since terrorism is cancerous in nature, SADC is well aware that if the challenge in northern Mozambique is not properly addressed, it can provide a fertile ground to spread out to other parts of the region.
The Double Troika Summit held 8 April in Mozambique was attended by leaders from the Summit Troika and those from the Organ Troika.
The current leaders of the Summit Troika are President Nyusi of Mozambique (chair), his Malawian counterpart, Lazarus Chakwera (incoming chair) and President Samia Hassan of the United Republic of Tanzania (outgoing chair).
The Summit Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation consists of President Masisi as chair, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as incoming chair and President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe as the outgoing chair.
The Troika System vests authority in a group of leaders to take quick decisions on behalf of SADC that are ordinarily taken at policy meetings scheduled at regular intervals, as well as providing policy direction to SADC institutions between the regular SADC Summits. sardc.net
