by Phyllis Johnson
The Southern African Development (SADC) has taken another step toward its goal of strengthening regional solidarity, peace and security “in order for the people of the region to live and work together in peace and harmony”, as envisaged in its founding treaty.
At a meeting in Gaborone, Botswana, in mid-January, the SADC Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security agreed to recommend to their heads of state the creation of a SADC organ for Politics, Defense and Security.
“This would allow more flexibility and timely response, at the highest level, to sensitive and potentially explosive situations,” their concluding statement said.
This solution draws on the strengths of both previous proposals, in allowing for a permanent SADC mechanism while maintaining the flexible approach of the old Frontline State (FLS) grouping that played a key role in the liberation of the sub-region.
A previous decision of the SADC Council of Ministers to establish a permanent Sector, and the recommendation of Frontline Foreign Ministers for a regional association to replace the FLS were both endorsed by the Summit of SADC leaders in August last year.
The summit decided that an appropriate institutional framework should be established, combining the two initiatives, “to avoid duplication and overlap in promoting a regional agenda for a common approach to defence and security, conflict resolution and prevention, foreign policy, democracy and human rights”.
The terms of reference for this body are set out in a document approved by the meeting, which was attended by the foreign ministers of all 12 SADC member states, with the exception of Mauritius, as well as defence and security ministers. Mauritius, the newest SADC member, sent a senior official from the embassy in Pretoria.
A number of objectives have been defined for the organ and it will function according to specified principles, including the sovereign equality of all member states, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the observance of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Military intervention would be decided upon only after all possible political remedies have been exhausted in accordance with the Charter of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the United Nations.
The objectives include: * safeguarding the region against instability from within or outside its borders;
* promoting political cooperation and common political values and institutions;
* developing a common foreign pol icy and a joint international lobby on issues of common interest;
* security and defence cooperation through conflict prevention, management and resolution;
* Mediation of disputes and conflicts;
* preventive diplomacy and mechanisms, with punitive measures as a last resort;
* democratic institutions and practices, and promotion of human rights;
* sustainable peace and security through peace-making and peace-keeping;
* give political, economic, social and environmental dimensions of security;
* development of a collective security capacity and a Mutual Defence Pact, and regional peacekeeping capacity
* close cooperation between police and security services in addressing cross-border crime and promoting a community-based approach to matters of security;
* monitor ratification of relevant international conventions and treaties;
* coordinate participation of members in international and regional peace-keeping operations; and
* “address extra-regional conflicts which impact on peace and security in southern Africa”. According to the institutional framework proposed, the SADC organ on Politics, Defence and Security will operate at Summit level, as well as ministerial and technical levels, but will function separately from other SADC structures.
A Chairman would be elected by the Summit, and the chairmanship would rotate on an annual and a Troika basis.
It is expected that technical support will be provided by the government structures of the country holding the chair, and by the SADC secretariat.
The organ it to operate in a flexible and informal manner, and one of its proposed institutions is the Inter- State Defence and Security Committee.
Modalities of how the proposed SADC organ could be structured and operationalised are to be determined by the next Summit of SADC heads of state later this year.
The treaty establishing the Southern African Development Community, signed at the 1992 Summit in Namibia, identifies regional solidarity, peace and security as one of the three major areas provided for in a framework for cooperation.
“A new Southern Africa, concerned with peace and development, must find a more abiding basis for continuing political solidarity and cooperation,” says the treaty, “in order to guarantee mutual peace and security in the region; and to free resources from military to productive development activities”. (SARDC)
