SADC calls for more resources to fight rebels in Cabo Delgado

WINDHOEK, Namibia

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Tuesday called for the strengthening of the operational capacity of the regional military force (SAMIM) in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique.

" Summit reiterated the call for Member States to urgently respond to requests for critical capabilities to enhance the operational capability of the SADC Mission in Mozambique,” the SADC communiqué issued at the end of a summit in Windhoek. Namibia, reads.

At the meeting, the presidents of Namibia, Zambia, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) also ‘noted’ in the final communiqué the ongoing investigations into the recent burning of bodies in the north of Mozambique.

"Summit noted the on-going investigations being undertaken by SAMIM leadership following a disturbing video clip circulating on social media depicting what appears to be SAMIM personnel burning deceased people and reiterated that the public will be informed once the investigations are completed, as communicated by the Chairperson of the Organ in his statement issued on 11 January 2023,” it stressed.

At yesterday’s meeting in the Namibian capital, a “minute of silence” was observed in memory of the SAMIM soldiers “who lost their lives in the line of duty”. In the final statement, regional leaders “expressed condolences” to the governments of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Republics of Botswana and Zambia, and the United Republic of Tanzania “and the respective families at the loss of their citizens”, but without providing details on the number of victims.

At the same time, SADC reaffirmed its “non-alignment” position on conflicts outside the region and the African continent.

"Summit adopted the draft African Union Declaration on the USA proposed ‘Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act’ and urged Member States to communicate SADC’s position, and reaffirmed the stance of Non-Alignment on conflicts outside the continent and the region at multilateral fora,”, the communique reads.

In addition to the presidents of Namibia, Zambia, South Africa and the DRC, the prime ministers of Lesotho and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) also participated in the summit.

The Republic of Mozambique was represented by Minister of National Defence, Cristóvão Artur Chume, and the head of the SAMIM military mission also attended.

The province of Cabo Delgado has since 2017 been ravaged by a conflict that has terrorized the population. Armed rebel groups have looted and massacred villages and towns across the province and a variety of attacks have been claimed by a branch of the ‘Islamic State’ group.

The conflict has already caused more than 4,000 deaths (data from The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project) and at least one million people displaced, according to a balance made by the Mozambican authorities.

Since July 2022, a military offensive by Maputo, with the support of Rwanda and, later, of the SADC, has enabled a climate of greater security in the region that had not been felt for years, and recovered locations that were controlled by the rebels, such as the village of Mocímboa da Praia, which had been occupied since 2020.