Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Lemogang Kwape, is set to lead a delegation to Luanda, Angola, for the SADC Heads of State and Government Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Extraordinary Summit.
The summit, convened to address the civil unrest in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was announced by President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi during a kgotla meeting on November 1.
The delegation will include the Minister of Defence and Security, Mr. Kagiso Mmusi, and the BDF Commander, Lieutenant General Placid Segokgo.
The move comes as a response to the growing concern over the situation in DRC, with calls for prompt interventions to ensure peaceful general elections in December and to eliminate the conflict that has displaced people and destabilized economies.
Botswana, committed to safeguarding peace and security in the SADC region, has also offered land for the establishment of a SADC standby force to enhance regional peacekeeping efforts.
Minister Mmusi further emphasized the importance of a standby force to address budgetary constraints that have historically caused delays in responding to crises.
With this force, the region will be equipped and capacitated to respond promptly and efficiently to peacekeeping missions and other emergencies.
The Chiefs of Defence from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania have been actively discussing military deployments and regional mechanisms to aid the eastern DRC region, with a report to be presented at the forthcoming Extraordinary Summit.
