SADC offers troops to DRC

By ALVAR MWAKYUSA 

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is ready to deploy a neutral military force to restore stability in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) if asked to do so by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

Tanzania’s President, Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete

Speaking at the end of SADC’s Troika Summit held in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, President Jakaya Kikwete said the regional grouping was ready to support ICGLR to bring a lasting solution to the challenges afflicting the eastern part of the mineral-rich country.


“SADC would gladly participate to provide military and logistic support in DRC if the ICGLR decides so,” Mr Kikwete, who is the current Chair of the SADC’s Organ on Democracy, Defence and Security, said.

At a one-day closed meeting, the Troika also commended the ICGLR on its efforts in finding a lasting solution to challenges facing the Eastern DRC. It also expressed readiness of the regional bloc to work together with the ICGLR.

“SADC is totally satisfied with efforts made by ICGLR and thus we think there is no need for a parallel initiative to tackle the conflict,” Mr Kikwete said while responding to questions from journalists. The meeting was also attended by Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, President Joseph Kabila of DRC and Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

President Jacob Zuma of South Africa was represented by that country’s Minister of Defence, Ms Nosiviwe Maphisa-Nqakula. Also present was the Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr Tomaz Salomao. Dr Salomao said that yesterday’s meeting was a follow-up to the SADC Heads of State and Government meeting held on August 18, this year, in Maputo, Mozambique.

The meeting in question had mandated President Guebuza, who is the current chair of SADC, to engage the government of Rwanda with regards to political and security situation on eastern DRC. “President Guebuza recently travelled to Kigali and presented a report before this meeting which has been welcomed and its recommendations endorsed,” Dr Salomao said.

It is also understood that President Kabila also briefed the Troika meeting on the prevailing situation in the Eastern DRC.
On the other hand, the Troika called on the international community to support the efforts of the ICGLR and continue to provide the much needed humanitarian assistance to the displaced people in the Eastern DRC.

The ICGLR’s Heads of State are scheduled to meet at the end of this week in Kampala, Uganda, where they are expected to receive a report from Ministers of Defence, Commanders of Defence Forces as well as heads of intelligence services, on how to address the challenges in DRC.

This follows directives issued by the Heads of State during the last ICGLR meeting held in Kampala early last month.
While reports from the war-ravaged country have indicated that the M23 rebels have stopped fighting for the time being, Mr Kikwete said the task ahead was to ensure the war is ended and it does not start again.

Accusing fingers have been pointed at Rwanda for supporting the rebels who are believed to be led by renegade general Bosco Ntaganda, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

Meanwhile, the Troika Summit congratulated the people of Angola for holding a peaceful, credible, free and fair election and congratulated President Eduardo Dos Santos and the MPLA party for winning the elections. The Troika summit is expected to meet in the near future to discuss the political standoffs in Madagascar and Zimbabwe.

Source: Tanzania Daily News

N.B.

A note by ZANZIBAR NI KWETU:
SADC has 15 member states, one of whose membership is currently suspended:
 Angola
 Botswana
 Democratic Republic of the Congo – since 8 September 1997
 Lesotho
 Malawi
 Mauritius – since 28 August 1995
 Mozambique
 Namibia – since 31 March 1990 (since independence)
 Swaziland
 Tanzania
 Zambia
 Zimbabwe
 South Africa – since 30 August 1994
 Seychelles – also previously been a member of SADC from 8 September 1997 until 1 July 2004 then joined again in 2008.
Suspended
 Madagascar – Membership currently suspended after the coup d'état led by the former mayor of Antananarivo Andry Rajoelina.