MASERU – Lesotho is set to send troops to Mozambique as part of the commitment by the regional countries to assist in quelling the tensions in that country on account of the terrorist attacks in the region of Cabo Delgado.
These developments were revealed by the Minister of Defence and National Security Hon. Halebonoe Setšabi at the Ministry’s headquarters on Wednesday this week.
The Minister said this deployment comes following the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of States and Governments which convened last month in Mozambique where the Member States pledged to deploy their army and form a joint force to assist Mozambique.
The submit “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”.
These SADC joint forces are hoped to restore order in that region where the insurgents have held hostage.
Flagged by the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela and other high ranking senior officials within the LDF, Setšabi could not be drawn on how many soldiers and the type of equipment will be deployed in that Mozambique.
He also could not say when the troops will depart saying that the plans are afoot for their preparation and that powers that be will soon make a final decision on the logistics.
The Minister further said that other portfolios will be engaged to also make an addition of civilian component in that country.
Lesotho had also had her fair share of hosting the SADC troops during the politically sponsored riots in 1998 which claimed lives and witnessed looting of businesses in large scale.
Mozambique Armed Defence Forces (MADF) have been battling with the insurgents following their insurgency at that region in October 2017. Their actions have claimed lives and displaced many families in that region.
Earlier in March this year, those terrorists invaded the Palma town which is in the northeast coast, killing many civilians.