Lesotho Leads Task Team to DRC

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security will send a three member task team to hold talks with al stakeholders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) conflict. Lesotho, South Africa and Mozambique were chosen at a recent meeting of the Organ at Sun City, South Africa.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohlabi Tsekoa announced on his return from the Sixth Ministerial Committee meeting of the Organ that although the DRC was not represented at the meeting, the situation in that country was discussed at length, with delegates expressing the view that it is likely that even the democratic elections anticipated for next year in that country might not to go ahead due to lack of peace and stability in that part of the world.

The meeting had agreed to send a ministerial delegation made up of Lesotho as chair of the SADC Political Organ; South Africa as deputy and; Mozambique as the former chairman of this organ, to the DRC to assess the situation and hold talks with all the stakeholders before the Heads of State and Governments conference to be held in Mauritius on August 16^th.

 The Ministerial delegation would then brief the Prime Minister, Mr. Pakalitha Mosisili, as chairman of this Organ, so that he could acquaint he conference in Mauritius of the current situation in DRC.

The meeting had, on the other hand, expressed satisfaction about the latest peaceful developments in Angola, believing all stakeholders to be serious about long lasting peace and stability after the years of violence which had claimed many lives.

 The Minister of Foreign Affairs also announced that Madagascar and Rwanda had applied for consideration as SADC affiliates. The Mauritius Heads of State and Government conference would consider the applications. The Ministerial meeting had sent the two countries guidelines on qualification for membership, such as common interests and goals, language and economy.

The Sixth Ministerial meeting had also considered guidelines and principles to govern elections and observation of elections in the region, as part of efforts to ensure democratisation in the region. All member countries would be obliged to make electioneering process and elections transparent and media accessible  so that all eligible to vote have no restrictions.

 Lesotho’s Political Organs chairmanship of SADC will end at the Heads of State and Governments conference in Mauritius in mid August.  

 The Minister had been accompanied to the Sun City, South Africa meeting by Home Affairs Minister Mr. Motsoahae Thabane and high-ranking officials from the two ministries. 

28 June 2004