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5.2 Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation
The SADC vision of a Shared Future can be appreciated within the historical context and
experiences of the region. Formal cooperation in politics, defence and security is rooted
in the commitment of the SADC founders to work together for the political and economic
liberation of the sub-region from colonial occupation and apartheid, initially through the
Front Line States (FLS) which provided an informal grouping for flexibility of consultation
and response. The process of development of political identity among the states in South-
ern Africa was a continuous process, based on the national liberation movement and the
struggle against Apartheid, and the cooperation dynamics allowed the development of
solidarity and political cohesion as well as cooperation in defence and security. This had
been deepening and consolidating continuously within the FLS. However, the new political,
economic and social context in the region posed new and enormous challenges, especially
the need to preserve peace, security, stability and democracy as a prerequisite for regional
integration and sustainable development.
The establishment of SADCC in 1980 added the economic dimension to the vision
of regional integration with the objective of strengthening friendly relations and the inte-
gration of regional economies, resources, and potential. However, the FLS remained active
for politics, defence and security until after the emergence of a democratic South Africa
in 1994, evolving into the formal structure of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and
Security Cooperation. Peace and security are therefore well established as an integral com-
ponent of development planning in southern Africa, due to the understanding that econ- 133
omic cooperation and integration requires a peaceful environment in which people can
grow and contribute their full potential.
The Organ was established in 1996 to coordinate the regional peace
and security agenda, reporting to Summit, as defined in Article 5 of the
SADC Treaty and the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security
Cooperation. The specific outcomes targeted were to enhance the fol-
lowing: 1)regional peace building; 2)conflict prevention, resolution and
management; 3)disaster risk management; 4)regional collective defence;
5)regional early warning; 6)cross border security; 7)training in peace
support operations; and 8)migration and refugee management.
A special Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government
met in Botswana on 28 June 1996, chaired by President Sir Quett
Ketumile Joni Masire, to launch the then SADC Organ on Politics,
Defence, and Security. The Summit recalled that the Heads of State
and Government had endorsed the recommendations of SADC
Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security,
proposing the establishment of this structure. The Summit reaf-
firmed that the SADC Organ constituted an appropriate institu-
tional framework by which SADC countries would coordinate
their policies and activities in the areas of politics, defence and
security, and agreed on the principles, objectives and institu-
tional framework for the Organ.
The Organ would become the SADC institution man-
dated to address issues relating to political stability, conflict
prevention, management and resolution, democracy and
human rights, as well as issues pertaining to peace, as out-
lined in the terms of reference for the Organ.