JOHANNESBURG – Southern African regional bloc SADC said on Tuesday it had approved the extension of a troop deployment in Mozambique to help the country fight an Islamic State-linked insurgency.
“Summit approved the extension of the SAMIM (SADC Mission in Mozambique) to continue with offensive operations against terrorists and violent extremists,” the bloc said in a statement after a meeting in Pretoria.
The SADC troop deployment was initially for three months and due to end on October 15. The statement did not say how long the approved extension was for.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa SADC will not tolerate terrorism when he opened the Extraordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community Organ Troika plus the Republic of Mozambique in Pretoria.
Ramaphosa chairs the summit in his capacity as chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Ramaphosa said the insurgency had “the potential to affect the stability of the region and our people’s lives.”
But he added that he was “confident security in Mozambique will be restored.” He thanked the SADC countries that had provided support to the mission.
“These acts of terrorism and insurgency have disrupted ordinary people’s lives.”
Ramaphosa said the insurgency had “the potential to affect the stability of the region and our people’s lives”.
But he added that he was “confident security in Mozambique will be restored.” He thanked the SADC countries that had provided support to the mission.
Ramaphosa added that the SADC would always be prepared to support countries in the region.
Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Namibian President Hage Geingob and Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi all attended the summit.
Since 2017, a jihadist organisation called Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamaah has been waging a violent insurgency in Cabo Delgado. Last year,the violence escalated. – NEWS24/REUTERS
