HARARE,Zimbabwe.（News of the South）-Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday led the regional bloc in coming up with a peace deal that is supposed to bring stability to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The meeting was attended by six SADC heads of state and Government and it included the Force Intervention Brigade Troops contributing countries and the DRC.
Current chairperson of Organ of Politics President Mnangagwa, outgoing Chairperson Zambian President Edgar Lunga and Botswana President Masisi as the incoming chairperson of the Organ of Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation attended this virtual meeting and SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Tanzanian Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Professor Palamagamba John Mwaluko Kabudi and Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera attended the meeting as the Force Intervention Brigade Troop contributing countries leader of the affected country, DRC, President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi was there as well.
The agenda of the meeting was to focus on joint efforts towards the stabilisation of the DRC.
“It is noteworthy that the situation in the DRC has been stable since the 2018 elections. I therefore exhort all stakeholders to forge ahead with the governance, security and socio-economic reforms required to sustain long-term stabilisation and sustainable development in the DRC,” said President Mnangagwa.
However, President Mnangagwa stressed deep concern with the continuing violence in some parts of the DRC.
He said:“The elimination of the threat posed by armed groups will require a comprehensive approach at the national and regional levels. As such, regional co-operation remains critical, not only to the long-term stabilisation of the DRC but to peace, security and development in the entire region.
“It is my firm belief that our engagement today will allow us to agree on a common position that seeks to strengthen the operational effectiveness and unity of command and control of the Force Intervention Brigade.’’
“In spite of the often challenging operational environment, you have all remained steadfast. The SADC and indeed the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation is grateful to the three countries for their commitment, in this regard.
“I wish to reaffirm SADC’s willingness to work closely with the United Nations in order to strengthen the FIB’s capacity as a dependable offensive capability of United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission,” he added.
According to President Mnangagwa the SADC region stands ready to continue engaging the United Nations under the framework of the UN-SADC Joint Task Taem towards mutually agreed strategy for strengthening FIB-MONUSCO efforts in DRC.
“Of significance is the deployment of the intelligent capabilities such as the Geo-Location and the establishment of the Threat Analysis Unit and the Tactical Intelligent Unit to enhance the capabilities of the FIB battalions. This will go a long way towards enhancing crisis prevention and promoting regional stability as well as sustainable regional economic growth,” said President Mnangagwa.
The meeting decided that the FIB should not be fiddled with as the UN was initially proposing for additional troops outside the SADC region.
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