The 26th Meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation was held on 11-12 July 2024 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Republic of Zambia.
Honourable Mulambo Haimbe, SC, M.P, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Zambia, chaired the meeting in his capacity as the Chairperson of the MCO.
Hon. Haimbe, highlighted that, while the SADC region continues to enjoy relative peace and tranquillity, terrorism and other transnational organised crimes continue to be of great concern. Hon. Haimbe called on SADC Member States to continue to cooperate and undertake joint initiatives to address these threats.
Regarding the security situation in Cabo Delgado Province in northern Mozambique, the Chairperson of the MCO commended SADC Member States for the great strides made in restoring peace and security in that country. Hon. Haimbe expressed the region’s collective resolve that, even with the withdrawal of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), the region will continue to work with the Republic of Mozambique to fight terrorism and protect all Member States from acts of terrorism and violent extremism. In this regard, the Chairperson of MCO expressed confidence that the exit of SAMIM will not lead to a security vacuum that may lead to the reversal of the gains made by the deployment of SAMIM.
The Executive Secretary of SADC, His Excellency Mr. Elias M. Magosi, highlighted that peace and stability is at the heart of the SADC integration and development agenda and that SADC has established fundamental structures and adopted clear guiding legal instruments and mechanisms to ensure sustainable peace and security, as well as the consolidation of democracy.
Outcomes of the 26th meeting of the MCO.
In its deliberations, the MCO reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace, security, and stability in the SADC region with the view to create a conducive environment for regional cooperation, integration and sustainable development.
The MCO expressed condolences to the Republic of Malawi on the passing of Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice President of Republic of Malawi, Her Excellency Dr. Shanil Dzimbiri, former First lady of the Republic of Malawi and others who died in plane crash on 10th June 2024. The MCO also expressed condolences to the Governments and families of soldiers who lost their lives in the course of duty while on deployment to the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).
The MCO also expressed its condolences to the Government and people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, for the untimely death of Commissioner Patrick-Alain Lonji Mpoyi, former Head of the Police Component within the Directorate of the Organ of Politics, Defence and Security Affairs at the SADC Secretariat, who passed on 21 June 2024, in Pemba, while servicing the SAMIM.
The MCO commended the Republic of Angola for its role in supporting the SAMIDRC and for ongoing facilitation of the Luanda process; and welcomed the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General for the UN to explore options for support to SAMIDRC.
Following the official closing of SAMIM on 4 July 2024, the MCO commended SAMIM Leadership and personnel as well as SAMIM Personnel Contributing Countries for the efforts undertaken to restore security and stability in Cabo Delgado since its deployment in July 2021 and welcomed the assurances that were given by the Government of the Republic of Mozambique to safeguard the gains achieved by SAMIM in restoring security to all the districts of Cabo Delgado.
The MCO directed the Secretariat in collaboration with the Organ Troika, SAMIM Mission Leadership, Personnel Contributing Countries and the SADC Regional Peace Training Centre (RPTC) to conduct After Action Review (AAR) to draw lessons and make recommendations to inform enhancement of the operational effectiveness of SADC mandated missions.
The MCO congratulated all Member States who held elections between July 2023 and July 2024 which include the Republic of Zimbabwe, Kingdom of Eswatini, Republic of Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of South Africa for holding successful elections.
On the consolidation of democracy, the MCO noted the Electoral Calendar for the remaining part of 2024 which includes elections in the Republic of Mozambique in October, Republic of Botswana in October, Republic of Mauritius in November and Republic of Namibia in November and urged all Member States to support the SADC Electoral Observation Missions (SEOMs) by nominating observers timeously.
The MCO commended the the Panel of Elders and the Mediation Reference Group for their role in supporting the deployments of the SADC Electoral Observation Missions (SEOMs) to the Republics of Madagascar and Zimbabwe, and the DRC.
The MCO approved the appointment of Ms. Elodi Ntamuzinda W’lgulu from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr. Leonard Lenna Sesa from the Republic of Botswana and Ambassador Joseph Nourrice from the Republic of Seychelles as members of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) whose mandate is to advise SADC on matters pertaining to elections, democracy and good governance. The MCO also congratulated Advocate Notemba Tjipueja from the Republic of Namibia, and Madam Jennifer Chiriga from the Republic of Zimbabwe on their election as the SEAC Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, respectively.
In line with the SADC Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons, the MCO commended Member States that have been implementing bilateral VISA exemptions and urged Member States that have not signed and ratified the SADC Protocol on Facilitation of Movement of Persons in the SADC Region to do so.
The MCO commended the Republics of Botswana and Namibia for their bilateral agreement to use national identity documents for entering the territory of the other as part of the regional efforts to enhance social integration between the two countries and encouraged other Member States to consider doing the same to ease movement of their citizens.
On measures to combat trafficking in persons, the MCO urged Member States that have not enacted legislation against Trafficking in Persons to do so, guided by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Model Law Against Trafficking in Persons; and those that have identified gaps in their legislation in relation to protection of children from abduction to take necessary measures to address the gaps.
The MCO commended the SADC Panel of Elders led by His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Mediation Reference Group, led by Ambassador Lucy Mungoma, for their on-going support to the comprehensive reforms process in the Kingdom of Lesotho, and urged the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho and the political parties in Parliament to expedite the passage of the tenth and eleventh Amendment to the Constitution Bills, 2024, also known as the Omnibus Bill.
The MCO approved the Guidelines for Establishing and Operationalising a Network of Women Mediators in the Southern African Region whose mandate is to promote the roles and meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention, management, resolution and the undertaking of inclusive mediation efforts, and peacebuilding at community, national and regional levels.
The MCO commended the Republic of Zimbabwe for spearheading the construction of a Pan-African multi-country facility in Zimbabwe which will showcase the diverse African Liberation history; and urged Member States to provide materials and artefacts for the Museum of African Liberation.
In line with Article 5 of the SADC Protocol of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, the MCO is composed of Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Public Security and State Security from all SADC Member States and is mandated to coordinate the work of the SADC Organ of promoting peace and security in the Region.
