The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, is taking part this Wednesday, November 20, in the Extraordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which is being held in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare. The event brings together leaders from various countries in the region to discuss security issues and assess the political and social situation on the African continent, with special attention to the conflicts in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The central theme of the summit is the security situation in southern Africa and on the continent as a whole. The situation in the east of the DRC has been a growing concern, with the presence of various armed groups and increasing instability in the region. The main objective of the summit is to address the security crisis in the DRC, seeking solutions to the conflict that directly affects the countries of the region and contributes to the migration and forced displacement of thousands of people.
In addition, the leaders attending the summit will assess the performance of the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIRDC), a peacekeeping force that has been operating in the DRC in order to support the local authorities in stabilizing the region. The mission was launched in 2022 and its mandate is scheduled to end in December 2024. During the summit, the possibility of renewing or adjusting the mission’s mandate will be discussed, based on the results achieved so far.
The meeting will be chaired by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who holds the rotating presidency of SADC, and will be attended by heads of state and government from other member countries of the organization, such as South Africa, Angola, Tanzania and other states in the region.
The SADC Extraordinary Summit is an important opportunity for African leaders to discuss joint strategies for dealing with regional crises and promoting peace and stability on the continent. For Mozambique, participation in the summit also reflects the country’s commitment to regional peace and security, as well as reinforcing Mozambique’s active role in the processes of mediation and conflict resolution in Africa.
This event comes at a crucial time, when regional security is one of southern Africa’s biggest challenges, and the SADC summit is seen as a vital forum for finding collaborative solutions to the problems affecting the region’s stability and development.