Africa-Press – Angola. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has already started contributing military contingents to its mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), confirmed this Wednesday the Angolan minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António.
The official was speaking to the press in Addis Ababa, on the sidelines of the 44th ordinary session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU), which began this Wednesday in the capital of Ethiopia.
According to Téte António, South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania are the countries in the region that launched the deployment of military contingents in the DRC, within the scope of decisions taken by the region’s heads of state.
The head of Angolan diplomacy said it was an obligation for SADC member states to contribute contingents to the DRC, similar to what happened with Mozambique, in compliance with a decision by the SADC heads of state and government.
The decision resulted from member countries’ concern about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in eastern DRC, following the resumption of attacks by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebellion, in clear violation of the current ceasefire.
With this initiative, SADC aimed to take the lead in resource mobilization efforts to facilitate peace and security in the region, which includes reviving discussions to establish and operationalize the Peace Fund and engage international cooperation partners.
The SADC mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC) was decided, on December 15, 2023, to support the Government of the DRC in restoring peace and security in the east of the country in the face of the actions of the M23.
SADC considers that the deployment of this mission demonstrates the commitment of its Member States to support the DRC in its efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability and establish a climate conducive to sustainable development and prosperity.
As a regional force, SAMIDRC must work together with the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) to combat armed groups operating in the east of the country.
Their deployment corresponds to the principle of self-defense and collective action set out in the SADC Mutual Defense Pact of 2003, which considers that “an armed attack perpetrated against a State Party is considered a threat to regional peace and security”.
Created in 1992, SADC is made up of 16 countries, including Angola, which currently holds its rotating presidency.
The other members are Mozambique, DRC, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), Tanzania, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar, Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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