Staff Reporter

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will on 7 January 2022 hold a virtual Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government to review progress and mandate of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).

The Summit will be chaired by His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, in his capacity as the Chairperson of SADC.

 “The SADC will on 7 January, 2022 hold a virtual Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government to review progress and mandate of the SADC Mission in Mozambique. In accordance with the SADC Treaty, the SADC Summit is responsible for the overall policy direction and control of functions of the community, ultimately making it the policy-making institution of SADC,” says SADC in a Statement.

Today, South African President and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation Cyril Ramaphosa will, convene an Extraordinary SADC Organ Troika Summit, comprising Heads of State and Government from Organ Troika members namely Botswana, Namibia and South Africa and will also be attended by the Republic of Mozambique.

Some preceding meetings to be held include Extraordinary Finance Committee meeting and Extraordinary SADC Council of Ministers to be held on 6 January 2022.

The Summit will also discuss the support for effective operation of SAMIM objectives to bring peace and stability in Cabo Delgado region.

SAMIM was deployed in July, 2021 following approval by the Extraordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique on 23 June 2021, as a SADC regional response to support Mozambique to combat terrorism and acts of violent extremism in some districts of Cabo Delgado Province. 

Over the past three years, the armed insurgents have launched numerous attacks across Cabo Delgado killing and displacing thousands of people. The disturbances also led to the shutdown of the multi-billion dollar gas project in the affected area.