Africa-Press – Botswana. The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has warned of the possibility of terrorists striking Botswana because of the country’s strong military presence in war-stricken Cabo Del Gabo region of Mozambique.In fact, the Commander of the BDF Placid Segokgo has told Parliament that Botswana is already a soft target for the Islamic terrorists. “We have realised that our footprint there creates an even bigger vulnerability here,”Segokgo told the legislators recently.
“So we must be ready, together with our sister agencies, to be able to adjust that, particularly in terms of intelligence gathering.”General Segokgo emphasised the need for the BDF’s “sister agencies”to be ready in the eventuality of a strike. He also noted that cybercrime has suddenly emerged as one of the country’s biggest security challenge. Botswana has contributed more than 300 troops to the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) where hundreds of civilians have lost their lives and thousands remain displaced since the conflict began in 2017. BDF troops are based in Mueda Village.The head of the SAMIM mission is Professor Mpho Molomo of the University of Botswana.
Last month, Sector Five Commander of the BDF combat troops, Lieutenant Colonel Molebi Silas, told a delegation led by Vice President Slumber Tsogwane that there was barely a sign of life when the troops arrived in Mueda as residents had fled the area after the terrorists killed 11 villagers in November 2021. However, the BDF has driven them back and reclaimed some of the territory.
According to the Deputy Force Commander of SAMIM, Sam Barwa batsile, they are preparing to transition from Scenario 6 to Scenario 5 because the situation continues to improve. This transition means that the SADC forces will move from a combat approach to peacekeeping.Botswana troops were deployed to Mozambique in July 2021.
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