SADC extends mandate of SAMIM in Cabo Delgado

The attacks by jihadist terrorists have already caused the deaths of more than 2,500 people and prompted another 850,000 to flee their home areas, triggering a humanitarian crisis in Cabo Delgado.

For now, SAMIM will remain on the ground until the final decision on its mandate, which will be known at the summit of the SADC troika, scheduled for August in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The fact was announced this Thursday during the Virtual Extraordinary Session of the SADC Troika, which was attended by Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi.

The current SADC chairperson, Malawian president Lazarus Chakwera, said that, as a family, the Troika made the right decision and a decisive step to extend the mandate of the mission in Mozambique as a way to continue to sustain the gains that have been made by SAMIM.

“By doing this, we demonstrate that when it comes to security and peace, the SADC family stands together and will never back down or give up. I am sure that we will continue to have more detailed deliberations on this matter during our Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Governments to be held in the Democratic Republic of Congo, next month”, Chakwera said.

The extension of SAMIM's mandate, he says, renews the determination to provide support to Mozambique to ensure sustainable development and the restoration of peace.

On the occasion, he thanked South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Troika body for their leadership in holding the Extraordinary Session whose agenda was the extension of SAMIM's mandate in Mozambique.

The SAMIM military operation was approved in June 2021 during an Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, held in Maputo. The SAMIM mandate was initially scheduled to end this Friday, but due to continued terrorist attacks, its stay was extended again.

(AIM)