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Ranga Mataire
Writing Black
Many at times we have allowed political obfuscation to get into the way of understanding characters behind terrorism in Africa and beyond.
In most cases, there is much emphasis on naming or labelling the alleged terrorist groups without establishing the actual characters behind such groups including those who are funding them.
A case in point is the Mozambican Cabo Delgado insurgencies that have so far claimed thousands of lives with the potential of the conflict spilling over to neighbouring countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.
While the conflict started as a religious sect, it has since metamorphosed into full-blown banditry with armed groups terrorising and tormenting civilians. The armed groups are said to have links with the Islamic State.
Initially made up of Mozambicans, the terrorist group now comprises of nationals from Tanzania, DRC and Somalia. So well-resourced is the group that it has the capacity to hire trainers from Somalia or pay ex-policemen and soldiers fired from duty.
As the SADC Heads of State converge via video conference for their 40th Summit, it is important that besides coming up with a co-ordinated response to curb the rising extremist violence in the country’s oil-rich north, the task must also be establishing the funders behind the group.
No doubt the issue of Mozambique’s security in the Cabo Delgado province is likely to dominate deliberations with a view to constitute a regional counter-terrorism unit to decisively deal with the disturbances.
Military action by the Mozambique government has not halted the attacks. Left unchecked, the disturbances are likely to grow and can become a huge regional problem that will undermining economic development.
Human security could further deteriorate in the region as seen in other parts of Africa afflicted by violent extremism such as the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and Lake Chad Basin.
The summit comes at the opportune time for SADC to show its seriousness in dealing with issues that threaten to undermine its identity as the most peaceful region in Africa.
As a member of SADC and the African Union (AU), Mozambique has an option of seeking regional and continental support.
What also stands as a buffer to Mozambique is the fact that it is party to 15 of the 19 international conventions and protocols against terrorism including the AU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism — all of which provide for assistance from the international community when facing threats of this magnitude.
It must not be hard for SADC to come to the rescue of a member state as various instruments mandates the regional body to come to Mozambique’s aid.
Article 6 (1) of the SADC Mutual Defence Pact specifies that “an armed attack against a state party shall be considered a threat to regional peace and security and such an attack shall be met with immediate collective action.”
Besides these protocols, SADC’s 2015 regional counter-terrorism strategy, which was developed in line with the United Nations global counter-terrorism strategy, provides for assistance in preventing youth radicalisation, border security, humanitarian aid and dealing with the genesis of terrorism.
It is commendable that the SADC summit of the Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security held in Harare on 19 May 2020 put the Mozambican insurgency on the SADC agenda.
What was saddening about the meeting, however, was that there was no concrete agreement on the regional body’s role in Mozambique.
Writing for reliefweb.intel.com Liesl Louw-Vaudran envisages that the upcoming SADC Summit is crucial opportunity to take decisive action to help end the crisis and cites specific steps the regional body can take as follows:
Develop a comprehensive operational strategy that allows for a range of military, economic, political and humanitarian measures.
Send a fact-finding mission to Cabo Delgado to determine the extent of the crisis and the humanitarian needs of the population.
Consider appointing a special envoy to coordinate efforts to assist Mozambique.
Engage with Mozambique’s development partners, international institutions and private companies active in the country to draw up a relief plan for victims and mobilise resources to help end the insurgency.
Outline measures for the effective co-ordination of security, surveillance and control of borders by neighbouring countries.
Communicate on the matter effectively and publicly when appropriate, to reassure citizens of SADC’s commitment.
Assist Mozambique to develop a long-term strategy to address the root causes of the violence, including the confiscation of land for mining, unemployment, high illiteracy, underdevelopment and a lack of basic services.
The AU should:
Engage with SADC to strengthen its efforts in Mozambique.
Table the crisis on the monthly agenda of the Peace and Security Council.
Use its convening power to mobilise international support from Mozambique’s development partners and international institutions.
Facilitate a process of sharing lessons from similar crises in the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin and Somalia. As chair of the AU for 2020 and a SADC member state, the South African government is well placed to spearhead these efforts. This will be in line with the AU’s theme for 2020 — “Silencing the Guns: creating conditions for Africa’s development”.
Proven to be inept at stopping atrocities by extremist insurgents in the Cabo Delgado province. The region has had its fair or conflicts, but has managed to wither the storm. It is no doubt that as a united entity, it can still deal with this latest challenge. None but ourselves can free ourselves from menacing terror.
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