SADC has been advised that military deployments cannot provide better solutions to existing challenges in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Angolan Foreign Affairs Minister Téte António (photo above) made the remarks on Saturday in Lusaka, Zambia shortly after the Extraordinary Summit of the Double Troika of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“Whatever deployment of forces we make, we must always bear in mind that the political solution is the path we must prioritize”, he said, in reference to the SADC missions in the DRC (SAMIDRC) and in Mozambique (SAMIM ).
He considered the meeting to be an opportunity for the countries to hear the ongoing diplomatic efforts, particularly by the President João Lourenço, as mediator appointed by African Union (AU), in addition to assessing, among other aspects, the security situation in eastern DRC and northern Mozambique.
Téte António spoke about some points contained in the summit’s final communiqué, mainly linked to deployment, mobilization of resources and other means inherent to the sustainability of missions.
However, although it is not referenced in the document issued at the high-level meeting in Lusaka, the minister spoke of the possible decision to phase out the withdrawal of SAMIM troops, stressing that the process must be carried out without leaving a security void.
According to the statement, the summit received updated reports on the situation in the DRC and Mozambique and reiterated the regional organization’s support for the two governments in order to achieve lasting peace, stability and security.
The summit expressed full support for the continent’s political and diplomatic processes, including the Luanda Process, led by the President Lourenço, and the Nairobi Process, led by the former president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Luanda Process, or ICGLR Roadmap on the Pacification Process in eastern DRC, is a document focused, among other aspects, on the establishment of a climate of trust between the States of the Great Lakes Region, the creation of ideal conditions for political dialogue and consultation and normalization of political and diplomatic relations between the DRC and Rwanda, as well as the immediate cessation of hostilities.
The Summit
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) held an Extraordinary Summit of the Organ Troika, Plus SADC Troika, Troop Contributing Countries to the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), Personnel Contributing Countries to the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), the DRC and Mozambique on 23rd March 2024 in Lusaka, Zambia.
The Summit was chaired by President Hakainde Hichilema in his capacity as the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
The SADC Organ is an institution of SADC which is responsible for the promotion of peace and security in the region.
The Summit discussed the security situation in the SADC region with focus on the situation in the eastern part of the DRC and Cabo Delgado in the northern Mozambique.
The Summit received an update on progress of SADC missions namely, SAMIDRC and SAMIM which were deployed to support the Governments of the DRC and Mozambique to restore peace, security, and stability to pave the way for sustainable development.
Currently, the SADC Organ Troika comprises of Zambia, as Chair of the Organ; Tanzania, as the Incoming Chair of the Organ; and Namibia, as the Outgoing Chair of the Organ.
The SADC Troika comprises of Angola, as the Chair of SADC; Zimbabwe, as the Incoming Chair of SADC; and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the Outgoing Chair of SADC.
SAMIM Personnel Contributing Countries include; Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
SAMIDRC Troop Contributing Countries are Malawi, South Africa, and Tanzania, working together with the Government of the DRC.
