Namibia, Malawi not sending soldiers to Mozambique

Botswana and South Africa have already deployed their troops, as has non-SADC member Rwanda, which sent a joint force of 1,000 soldiers and police officers under a separate arrangement with Mozambique.

RUSTENBURG, July 27 (ANA) – Namibia and Malawi will not send soldiers as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission to help repel terrorism in northern Mozambique, according to media reports on Tuesday.

Radio station Eagle FM Namibia quoted International Relations Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as saying the Namibia Defence Force would not be deployed in Mozambique, but would instead provide assistance “by other means” to fight terrorism in the northern Cabo Delgado province.

“Not every country does send because first the number is determined, so that is why this time we are not sending but remember when SADC went to Lesotho, we sent our personnel there,” she told the radio station.

Eagle FM said SADC would contribute a portion of finances into the military mission in the Mozambique and countries sending their troops would also carry part of the costs.

Malawi is also not sending troops, The Nation independent newspaper reported earlier this month, citing acting defence force spokesperson Major Calvin Mlelemba.

SADC resolved to send soldiers to Mozambique after Islamic State-backed terrorists launched an attack on the Cabo Delgado town of Palma in March, killing at least 12 people including a South African and a Zimbabwean, and forcing over 100,000 others to flee for safety.

Botswana and South Africa have already deployed their troops, as has non-SADC member Rwanda, which sent a joint force of 1,000 soldiers and police officers under a separate arrangement with Mozambique.

“The Rwandan contingent will support efforts to restore Mozambican state authority by conducting combats and security operations, as well as stabilization and security-sector reform,” the Rwandan government said at the time.

The European Union has adopted a decision to set up a military training mission and support Mozambican armed forces in protecting civilians and restoring safety and security in Cabo Delgado.

The mission will provide training in operational preparation, counter-terrorism, the protection of civilians and compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law.

– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa