SANF 21 no 11
A major decision is expected to be made this week on how southern Africa will collectively respond to the security situation that has left many people dead or homeless in northern Mozambique.
The announcement will be made by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Extra-Ordinary Troika Summit of the Organ Plus Mozambique scheduled for 29 April in Beira.
The regional response will be based on the findings of the Technical Assessment Team that was deployed to Mozambique by the SADC Organ in early April following the decisions of a SADC Extraordinary Double Troika Summit.
The SADC regional response is expected to address increased acts of extremism and terrorism in the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique.
Since the insurgency began in 2017, the United Nations estimates that more than 670,000 people have been displaced, while thousands have been killed.
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, hence the need for a proportionate regional response.
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, and/or deploying the SADC Standby Force.
However, whatever regional response is decided by SADC, this will be done on the invitation of Mozambique and will respect the sovereignty of Mozambique.
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, who is the current SADC chairperson, has welcomed regional solidarity, saying continued support from SADC will allow his country to defeat extremism and terrorism.
In fact, SADC has acknowledges that continued acts of extremism and terrorism in the northern Mozambique 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.
According to a draft agenda, the SADC Extra-Ordinary Troika Summit of the Organ Plus Mozambique will be preceded by the Extraordinary Meeting of the Organ Troika Ministerial Committee of the Organ on 28 April.
The current SADC Troika Summit of the Organ consists of President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana as chair, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (incoming chair) and President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe as the outgoing chair.
The SADC Troika of the Organ is responsible for promoting peace and security in the region, and this Troika System vests authority in the 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 Summit.
The Organ structure, operations and functions are regulated by the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. sardc.net
