Moz terrorism summit postponed
Although the unavailability of two heads of state has seen the postponement of the Mozambique terrorism summit, more humanitarian relief and the deployment of troops are on the cards.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) yesterday postponed its summit on terrorism in Mozambique due to the unavailability of key roleplayers.
The extraordinary summit of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation was scheduled to be held in Maputo today (Thursday). However, Botswana president Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, who is also the SADC organ chairperson, and President Cyril Ramaphosa were unavailable and a decision was taken to move the summit to a later date.
Ramaphosa is currently testifying at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture, while Masisi is in quarantine.
The summit was expected to receive a report by the technical assessment team that was established following the Extraordinary Double Troika Summit held on April 8, at which full solidarity with the Mozambican government was expressed and the acts of terrorism against innocent civilians, women and children in Cabo Delgado were condemned.
A new summit date has not yet been set.
The SADC organ aims to promote peace and security in the region and the technical assessment team has proposed that a regional force be deployed in Mozambique to help quell the Islamic state-linked insurgency.
Meanwhile, Mathews Phosa and Roelf Meyer of the In Transformation Initiative (ITI) have welcomed SADC’s decision to consider taking decisive steps in assisting Cabo Delgado. “We understand that possible military intervention by the SADC Standby Force is to be considered,” a joint statement by Phosa and Meyer reads.
“While this is a necessary step to protect civilians, experience has shown that military intervention against terrorist groups sometimes leads to human rights abuses and can lead to further violence.”
They urged SADC leaders to ensure that any military action be accompanied by a transparent and comprehensive plan to ensure the respect of human rights, the provision of humanitarian aid and the socio-economic development of the region.
Phosa and Meyer, through ITI, have offered to assist by helping set up an emergency fund to provide humanitarian aid to victims of the violence.
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