Sello Motseta
27th November 2020
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi revealed that the extraordinary SADC organ troika summit plus troop contributing countries the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique have identified the need to combat the growing rising incidence of terrorism in the region as a top priority.
“Other practical and incremental steps that we agreed on include expediting the establishment of the SADC regional counter-terrorism centre as well as enhancing dedicated national counter terrorism coordination structures. These include our cyber security response capacity and improving multi-lateral co-operation to detect, investigate, identify and combat radicalism and violent extremism,” said Mokgweetsi Masisi, president of Botswana and the Chairperson of the SADC Organ Troika.
He said, “The Summit also deliberated on the strategy on the progressive and phased drawdown of United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC(MONUSCO).”
The Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit also supported calls for the finalization of a comprehensive regional response and support for Mozambique but were coy when asked to reveal details.
“We are directed by conditions on the ground,” said a cagey Masisi, when asked to provide clarity on when the plan will be finalized and whether it was likely to succeed.
Officials maintain that although the region has made progress in entrenching democracy as evidenced in democratic elections in Tanzania and Seychelles despite challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic there are some issues emerging which threaten the preservation of peace and security.
These included terrorism, insurgencies, cybercrime and transnational organized crimes. Consolidating an elusive peace agreement continues to be a priority for the Democratic Republic of Congo
Tshisekedi Tshilombo, Democratic Republic of Congo revealed his country had been plagued by several conflicts of a political nature and expressed need to install a democratic culture, end conflict and build a strong judiciary. He believed with peace investors could help to beneficiate the economy.
“This will also attract investors,” said Tshilombo.
Tshilombo revealed 4 million children out of school would be allowed to return to school for free and he expressed desire to provide free education for school going children through to secondary school.
