Africa-Press – Botswana. Leaders from Southern Africa will meet from today in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the 42nd SADC summit, discussing armed violence in Cabo Delgado and Angolan mediation of the conflict between Kigali and Kinshasa.
“This summit will address, among other issues, political and peace and security issues, as well as economic and social ones, within the framework of strengthening regional integration, mobilizing collective efforts to face the multiple challenges facing SADC [Community for the Development of Southern Africa] and its Member States confront each other”, indicates a note from the Presidency in Maputo, confirming the presence of the Mozambican head of state, Filipe Nyusi, at the summit to be held in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo ).
One of the main current challenges for the sub-regional organization is linked to armed violence in Cabo Delgado province, northern Mozambique, where forces from the organization’s member countries have been, since 2021, supporting the Mozambican army in the fight against an armed insurgency. which started in 2017.
Although the summit is under the motto of “Promoting Industrialization”, among the main agenda items is the “appreciation and consideration” of the comprehensive report of the SADC Military Mission (SAMIM), which has been supporting Mozambican forces in the fight against rebels in the north of the country, as well as the deadlines for their stay in the country.
Last month, SADC decided to provisionally extend its military mission in Cabo Delgado beyond 15 July during an extraordinary summit of the “troika” of the organisation’s heads of state and government.
At the time, it was decided that the provisional extension of the deployment of troops from Southern Africa would last until the “consideration and consideration of the comprehensive SAMIM report by the ordinary summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, scheduled for 17 and 18 August 2022.” , in the Democratic Republic of Congo”.
SADC noted that the deployment of the force had achieved “significant achievements and milestones” in combating “terrorism”.
Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas, but has been terrorized since 2017 by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the Islamic State extremist group.
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