Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, defended this Thursday the joint efforts and union between SADC Member States, so that the region becomes more peaceful, inclusive, competitive and industrialized.
At the closing act of the 43rd Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), João Lourenço stated that human capital should play a central role in the region’s development strategy.
The Angolan President, who assumed the rotating leadership of the organization for one year, considered it necessary that the governments of the countries of Southern Africa work hard to fulfill the actions contained in the Strategic Indicative Plan for Regional Development.
The SADC Strategic Plan sets out a comprehensive and sustainable development agenda in the social, economic, political, governance and security areas.
peace in the region
With regard to peace, security and stability in the region, João Lourenço referred to the current situation in Mozambique, which is “considerably calmer and more stable”, largely due to the entry into action of the SADC Joint Alert Force.
He recalled that the mission of the contingent present in Mozambique was recently extended for another year, in response to the positive results that have been registered.
“Stability in this area of Mozambique will be the key for us to be able to take objective steps towards attracting the necessary support for the economic and social reconstruction of Cabo Delgado province and, consequently, of the country”, he underlined.
As for the situation in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), he said that SADC will continue to work in the search for the best paths to peace, in close coordination and concertation with the other existing mechanisms for the resolution of this “intricate conflict”.
We welcome, continued President João Lourenço, the decision on the deployment of the SADC Reinforced Brigade Forces for a period of 12 months.
He underlined that the final objective is to help this brotherly country (DRC) to find the fastest ways to stability, contributing to the total pacification of the region.
With regard to Sudan, the Angolan President highlighted that SADC is concerned about the current situation which has already caused thousands of deaths, internally displaced persons, refugees and the destruction of many of the country’s infrastructures.
In this context, the organization’s leaders appealed to the conflicting parties to put an immediate end to the use of weapons and agree to resolve the differences that separate them by sitting at the negotiating table, in order to achieve the necessary peace for national reconstruction and economic and social development. from the country.
With regard to the situation in the Sahel region, João Lourenço underlined that SADC is following with great concern the events with particular emphasis on terrorism on the one hand, but also the unconstitutional changes of governments legitimately elected by the peoples, through coups d’état practiced by military leaders.
“We encourage all the efforts of the leaders of the member countries of the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with a view to the quickest restoration of the legal and constitutional order in the countries concerned”, he said.
Conflict Russia and Ukraine
The Angolan statesman referred that SADC defends the need to put an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine due to the consequences it represents for world peace and security, food security, energy and international trade.
“Weapons must be silent and give way to diplomacy to avoid the escalation of the conflict or a possible nuclear confrontation, negotiating a peace that is really lasting for Europe”, he defended.
He added that these and other conflicts that are developing in Africa and in the world, associated with the drought that affects vast areas of the SADC region, the harmful consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and other factors, have been the main causes of the current crisis surrounding the deficit in world food production.
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