by Kizito Sikuka – SANF 14 no 49
The Southern African Development Community is committed to address any political instability to ensure socio-economic development.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Kingdom of Lesotho are currently experiencing political challenges.
DRC slid into political turmoil in 2012 when anti-government rebels invaded and captured the city of Goma located in the eastern parts of the country, causing displacement of people and loss of lives and property.
The Coalition Government in Lesotho has been facing some challenges since its formation in 2012, and the situation worsened in the wake of an alleged coup plot by Lesotho’s military on 30 August.
SADC is closely monitoring the situation in both countries and has taken measures including peace mediation and military support to address the situation.
For example, SADC has convened an extra-ordinary Double Troika Summit on 15 September in Pretoria, South Africa to discuss and consider the developments in the two countries.
The Double Troika consists of the SADC Summit Troika and the SADC Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
The Summit Troika is made up of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (SADC chairperson), Botswana President Ian Khama (deputy chairperson) and Malawian President Peter Mutharika (immediate past chairperson).
On the other hand, the SADC Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation consists of South African President Jacob Zuma as chairperson, deputized by Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, with Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba as the outgoing chair.
This Troika system vests authority in the group 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 in between regular SADC summits.
The Troika system has been effective since it was established by the SADC Summit at its annual meeting held in August 1999 in Maputo, Mozambique.
As when necessary, other Member States may be co-opted into the Troika system. In this regard, the Double Troika Summit, which opened today in South Africa was also attended by DRC and the United Republic of Tanzania.
“The purpose of the SADC Double Troika Summit is to consider the latest political developments in the SADC region, particularly the political and security situation in the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” reads part of a statement issued by South Africa ahead of the summit.
The summit comes after President Zuma’s recent visit Lesotho to assess the situation. The Lesotho Coalition leaders have agreed to work together in implementing a declaration made in South Africa in August as well as a similar one made in Windhoek, Namibia in July “to restore political normalcy, stability, law and order, peace and security in the Kingdom.”
“Concerning developments in the DRC, the Double Troika Summit is expected to review progress in relation to the voluntary disarmament and surrender of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, known by its French abbreviation FDLR.”
Significant progress has been registered in containing the situation in eastern DRC following the signing of a peace agreement by the DRC government and the M23 rebels to end a three-year insurgency after the M23 rebels were defeated in November 2013 by Congolese army backed by foreign peace-making forces from SADC, the African Union and the United Nations.
Part of the agreement include the need by the M23 to end all armed activities, as well as the voluntary disarmament and surrender of foreign forces supporting the M23.
Neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda are allegedly fighting alongside the rebels in eastern DRC, and there is growing international pressure for the neighbouring countries to back off.
SADC regards peace as a prerequisite for development as there can be no peace without development. As such, the SADC is actively engaged in various activities to address political instability in some parts of the region. sardc.net
