Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) contingent had finally departed to Mozambique on Sunday to shore up the Southern African Community Development (SADC) forces
to restore order and stabilise the terrorist attacks in the region of Cabo Delgado in that country, perpetrated by the insurgents linked to the Islamic
State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). This move is a response to a call by the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of States and Governments which convened in June where in the Member States pledged to deploy their army
and form a joint force to assist Mozambique. The summit “urged the Member States in collaboration with Humanitarian Agencies to continue providing support to the population affected by the terrorist attacks, in Cabo Delgado,
including internally displaced persons”. Although Lesotho will dispatch 125 soldiers, some are set to join their colleagues in the coming days when all logistics have been finalised.
Giving orders to the task organised company on Friday at Makoanyane Barracks, the Prime Minister (PM) Dr Moeketsi Majoro told the departing troops that Basotho love them and are
rallying behind them. He told them to demonstrate to the nations the Lesotho’s expertise in peacekeeping efforts adding that their deployment should “bring comfort”.
Dr Majoro said the region is experiencing acts of violence perpetrated by AhluSunna Wal Jamaa in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. “A number of threats
confront the world, continent and the southern Africa region. Transnational Organised Crime networks and syndicates have intensified their operations throughout the region compromising state and human security.
Unfavourable conditions such as poverty, high youth unemployment, hunger and disease – particularly Covid-19 and slow economic recovery have had a devastating effect on
communities. “This has enabled terror networks to exploit the situation by recruiting, radicalising and financing illicit activities thereby creating a conducive environment to carry out acts
of terror. Activities of sympathisers and facilitators of this and other terror networks are increasing in the region,” he said. The PM further warned
that Lesotho faces the “real” risk of terrors sponsored by foreign terror groups. The LDF Commander Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela said the work of a soldier everywhere in
the world is to fight adding that the ones who will be forming the SADC joint forces have been prepared mentally to undertake the exercise. He assured that the
contingent had underwent extensive training. Also the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Letsoela charged his troops to “raise the Lesotho flag high”.
The Commander added that they are under the command and must obey orders. He said the overall cost direct from Lesotho is M35 million for this exercise.
According to Lieutenant General Letsoela, the LDF troops are going to be “more offensive” to bring stabilisation in Mozambique. Asked what warfare skills are Lesotho troops contributing to Mozambique, the Commander said they
are going with all land army skills from cooking, medicine, intelligence, law and armoury. It is expected that after helping destabilise the region, there will be peacekeeping efforts
carried out in the affected region. The mission is expected to last for 90 days, however the LDF Commander said that will be determined by the situation on the ground.
Meanwhile Lesotho in 1998 became the beneficiary of the SADC joint forces (by Botswana and South Africa) intervention following the riots and arson and looting in large scale
which saw cleaning shops off the merchandise. Lesotho was among the African countries who deployed their men who fought during the World War I in Europe which fought from 1914 ending 1918 during the conflict between alliance
of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire known as “Central Powers” who fought against the Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania,
Japan and the United States known as “Allied Powers”. In 1939 to 1945 Lesotho send her men to shore up the Great Britain which was then her coloniser when that country fought with Germany.
