Marching Words With Actions

Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Saturday March 23, 2024 met in Lusaka (Zambia) in an extra-ordinary Summit. During the Summit, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to provide both diplomatic and military support in order to find lasting solutions to the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mozambique. Though it’s not the first time they are committing themselves on the issue of insecurity in the region, the leaders are this time around expected to march words with action. This can be done by intensifying public diplomacy on the role and successes of SADC peace support missions in the two countries to avoid negative narratives that may compromise the success of the missions and the deployment of troops to Mozambique and DR Congo. A communique issued at the end of the Summit reiterating the regional commitment in the SADC mutual defense pact that “an armed attack against one shall be deemed a threat to regional peace and security,” is explicit enough. Based on the communique and considering the situation on the ground, the members after expressing appreciation to the deployed troops for their dedicated service towards preserving peace and security in the region, should in the days ahead enhance their financial and military contributions to the fight.
The different resolutions taken during the 43rd SADC Heads of State and Government Summit in Luanda (Angola), a few months ago, should be fully implemented. Coming at a time when the U...