Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the Sadc Organ Troika Extraordinary Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe, which concluded on November 21, 2024.Photo: Courtesy
By
Adonis Byemelwa
The
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairperson, Zimbabwean President
Emmerson Mnangagwa, has reiterated the bloc's unwavering commitment to
fostering peace and stability in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC).
Addressing
the Sadc Extraordinary Summit on November 20, 2024, Mnangagwa called for unity
and collective resolve in tackling regional instability, emphasizing that peace
is essential for the prosperity of the region.
His
remarks came as Sadc leaders assessed the ongoing deployment of the Sadc
Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), which has been engaged in efforts to restore
stability in the war-torn eastern part of the country.
The
SAMIDRC deployment, initiated in December 2023, was approved during an earlier
Sadc summit in May of that year in Namibia. It is composed of troops from South
Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania, working alongside the Congolese Armed Forces
(FARDC) to counter armed groups that have plagued the region for years.
These
groups, including the notorious M23 rebels, continue to destabilize North Kivu
and surrounding areas, with the conflict recently escalating near the
provincial capital of Goma.
Mnangagwa
praised the member states contributing forces to SAMIDRC and the Sadc
Secretariat for their dedication to regional stability but acknowledged that
much work remains to be done.
He
stressed the importance of mobilizing resources promptly, stating that
"the assessment made by the summit reveals the need for timeous availing
of resources to support peace initiatives."
Despite
the deployment, the situation in the Eastern DRC remains precarious. Earlier
this year, a South African Airforce Oryx helicopter operating under the UN
peacekeeping mission MONUSCO was damaged by ground fire, injuring crew members.
Reports from the region indicate that FARDC forces recently repelled an
offensive by M23 rebels on the strategic town of Sake, with support from
SAMIDRC troops.
However,
the M23 group, which has been accused of encircling Goma, denies any plans to
capture the city. Instead, the group has called for a monitored ceasefire and
political dialogue, claiming to seek a peaceful resolution while vowing to
respond to attacks on its forces.
The
conflict in the DRC is further complicated by the exploitation of natural
resources in the region, a key driver of violence. Armed groups often fund
their operations through the illicit trade of minerals and agricultural
products, including cocoa, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Austere
Malivika, an ITV reporter covering the DRC, described the situation as "a
vicious cycle of plunder and displacement, where the livelihoods of ordinary
Congolese are stripped away by those who wield guns in the fields of war."
The need for a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of the
conflict, including economic inequities and weak governance, is evident.
Former
University of Dar es Salaam professor Mwesiga Baregu, writing in his article African
Regional Peace and Security under the AU, argued that resolving the DRC’s
crisis requires more than military intervention.
"The
DRC’s conflict is deeply rooted in historical grievances, porous borders, and
competing regional interests," Baregu wrote. "Unless these structural
issues are addressed, Sadc’s efforts will remain piecemeal, and the cycle of
violence will persist." While Mnangagwa’s rhetoric emphasizes unity and
solidarity, Baregu’s critique emphasizes the limitations of such approaches in
the absence of tangible, long-term solutions.
The
summit also turned its attention to Mozambique, where a post-election crisis
has intensified following disputed presidential elections on October 9, 2024.
President Filipe Nyusi’s ruling party, Frelimo, has faced accusations of
rigging the vote to extend its nearly five-decade hold on power.
The
opposition, led by Venancio Mondlane, has called for protests, with
demonstrations met by a harsh police crackdown that has left at least 30 people
dead. Mondlane continues to challenge the election results, citing widespread
irregularities documented by international observers, including the European
Union.
Sadc’s
response to the Mozambique crisis has drawn criticism from political analysts
and opposition leaders alike. Mnangagwa was among the first to congratulate
Frelimo’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, on his victory, a move that has been viewed
as premature given the unresolved legal challenges surrounding the election.
On
Aljazeera Television Linda Masarira, a Zimbabwean opposition politician,
criticized Sadc for what she described as a "lukewarm" approach to
electoral disputes. "Sadc has failed to hold member states accountable
when it comes to democratic processes," she said, adding that the bloc’s
credibility as a mediator is at stake.
The
unrest in Mozambique has regional ramifications, particularly for neighboring
countries like South Africa, which has intermittently closed its border with
Mozambique due to security concerns.
The
border closures have disrupted trade, costing the South African economy
millions of rand daily, and have had a ripple effect on landlocked nations such
as Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe that rely on Mozambique’s ports for imports and
exports. Masarira emphasized the urgency of resolving the crisis, warning that
continued instability could destabilize the entire region.
Sadc’s
handling of these intertwined crises has highlighted the challenges of
balancing rhetoric with action. While the bloc has made strides in fostering
regional cooperation, critics argue that its responses often lack the
decisiveness needed to effect meaningful change.
Pigou, a political analyst at the Institute
for Security Studies, observed that Sadc’s tendency to issue statements of
solidarity without addressing the root causes of conflict undermines its
effectiveness. "There’s an opportunity here for Sadc to step up, but it
requires moving beyond surface-level interventions and addressing the
structural issues driving instability," he said.
Baregu,
in his analysis of regional peace and security, has called for a holistic
approach that goes beyond military deployments and election monitoring. He
advocates for addressing governance deficits, promoting inclusive economic
development, and strengthening regional institutions to ensure lasting peace.
"Sadc must rethink its strategy," he argued. "It’s not enough to
deploy troops or observe elections. The bloc needs to tackle the systemic
issues that fuel these conflicts."
Mnangagwa
concluded the Sadc summit by expressing gratitude to the leaders and
representatives who attended, reaffirming the bloc’s commitment to peace and
stability. He emphasized the importance of collective efforts in translating
resolutions into tangible outcomes. However, the rhetoric of unity and resolve
often heard at Sadc gatherings risks falling short unless paired with decisive
actions. The standoffs in the DRC and Mozambique highlight the limits of
statements without strategic implementation.
Sadc
chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security, Tanzanian
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was represented by Zanzibar Head of State
Hussein Ali Mwinyi, once remarked that "peace is not just the absence of
war; it is the presence of justice, accountability, and opportunity for
all." Her words accentuate the complexity of addressing conflicts fueled
by systemic issues, including resource exploitation and governance failures.
For
Sadc, the challenge lies in ensuring its diplomatic and military interventions
are effective and sustainable. While the rhetoric of solidarity inspires hope,
it must be matched with investments in addressing root causes such as economic
disparities, weak state institutions, and transnational criminal activities.
With a shift from talk to meaningful action, the bloc can avoid perpetuating cycles of
instability. The ability of Sadc to adapt its strategies and commit resources
to long-term peacebuilding will determine whether it can truly rise to meet the
region’s pressing challenges.
