As SADC grapples with the challenge of peace and security in parts of the region, regional leaders will meet in Congo’s capital Kinshasa to address pressing issues.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the chair of the SADC body on security policy, defense and cooperation, will give a comprehensive report on the security situation.
The issue of peace and security will once again dominate Kinshasa when leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meet this week.
Some of the hot spots include instability in eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo following the re-emergence of the M23 rebels.
Information will also be released on the situation in the northern areas of Cabo Delgado in Mozambique, where the SADC mission to repel terrorist attacks is deployed, as well as the situation in Lesotho and Eswatini.
Ramaphosa will lead discussions on security.
“We are ending our term in the SADC body and handing over to Namibia as the next chair and our president will report on the progress that has been made in terms of deploying staff from various SADC countries as well as Rwanda where they have bilateral relations. in terms of troops. We have to give an assessment, because you know that terrorists continue to harm people,” says Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor.
The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Felix Tsisekedi, will take over as the new SADC Chairman. He will take over from Malawi’s President Larazus Chakweri.
Regional leaders will discuss promoting industrialization through agro-processing, mineral beneficiation and regional value chains for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
“We are well aware that natural resource issues in the region have been one of the drivers of conflict and it is very important that once SADC members meet in Kinshasa, they must deal with the elephant in the room, managing and harmonizing relations between communities and multinational companies . that use resources and they should focus on democratic projects like what we are seeing in Angola and strengthen the vision of 2050 and take into account the role of civil society,” says lawyer Sifa Mantula, a researcher at the African School of Public and International Relations Thabo Mbeki.
The meeting will also focus on the proposed amendment to the protocol on the development of tourism in the region and the amendment to the SADC treaty, which would entail the recognition of the SADC parliament as a SADC institution.
VIDEO: SADC Heads of State and Government Meeting – President Ramaphosa to lead SA delegation to DRC
