Staff Reporter
The SADC Extraordinary Double Summit held in Mozambique yesterday directed an immediate technical deployment to the Republic of Mozambique, and the convening of an extra ordinary meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ by 28 April 2021 that will report to the Extraordinary Organ Summit on 29 April 2021.
The Double Troika Summit which President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the outgoing Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security attended and officially opened by HE Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique and Chairperson of SADC, deliberated on the insurgency in Mozambique.
There have been heightened concerns over growing terrorist activities in Mozambique especially after the insurgent attacks on Palma, a coastal town in Cabo Delgado Province on March 24.
The Double Troika Summit received a report a report from the Organ Troika on the security situation in Mozambique, and noted with concern, the acts of terrorism perpetrated against innocent civilians. Women and children in some of the districts of Cabo Delgado Province of the Republic of Mozambique condemned the terrorist attacks in strongest terms and affirmed that such heinous attacks cannot be allowed to continue without a proportionate regional response.
The Summit expressed its heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the Government and people of the Republic of Mozambique, particularly the bereaved families, on the loss of their loved ones. The Summit expressed full solidarity with the Government and people of the Republic of Mozambique, and reaffirm SADC`s continued commitment to contribute towards the efforts to bring about lasting peace and security, as well as reconciliation and development in the Republic of Mozambique.
The Double Troika Summit commended HE President Dr Mokgweetsi, Eric Keabetswe Masisi of the Republic of Botswana. And Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation for spearheading the work of the Organ, and HE Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique, and Chairperson of SADC, for his leadership and for convening the Summit.
The security situation in northern Mozambique is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Attacks by violent extremists have claimed over 1000 lives and displaced 250000 people since October 2017. Infrastructure has been destroyed and citizens robbed of their livelihoods.
Mozambique is also a state party to 15 of the 19 international conventions and protocols against terrorism, and the AU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, all of which provide for assistance from the international community under the current circumstances.
SADC should invoke Article 6(1) of the Pact and implement its 2015 counter-terrorism strategy to help combat the insurgency in northern Mozambique and prevent a spill-over into the region.
