HAIRPERSON OF SADC DEFENCE AND SECURITY BODY PLEDGES NO TOLERANCE OF ABUSES
Maputo, 12 Jan (AIM) – Namibian President Hage Geingob, who is the current chairperson of the Organ for Political, Defence and Security Cooperation of SADC (Southern African Development Community), has stressed that SADC does not tolerate the profaning of enemy corpses shown in a video circulating on social media.
The video shows soldiers, apparently from the SADC Military Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), tossing two bodies, believed to be islamist terrorists, onto a bonfire. One of the soldiers shown in the video has a South African flag on his armband, and is thus believed to be a member of the South African contingent of SAMIM.
The statement from Geingob said that the SAMIM leadership has begun investigations into the circumstances under which the video was shot, and promised that, once the investigations are concluded, their findings will be shared.
“I want to stress categorically that SADC does not tolerate the acts reflected in the video”, said Geingob, “and, once the investigations are over, SADC will take appropriate measures, in accordance with international law on armed conflicts”.
He added that the SAMIM forces have always behaved “in a professional, efficient and responsible manner, in accordance with the applicable laws and the rules of engagement which govern SAMIM operations on the ground.
Geingob reiterated SADC’s “commitment to peace and security in the region”. He pledged that SADC “will continue to support Mozambique in its fight against terrorism and violent extremism in Cabo Delgado province, neutralizing the terrorist threat and restoring security, in order to prepare the path for sustainable development of Mozambique and of the SADC region”.
He noted that, since the deployment of SAMIM in July 2021, “there has been an enormous improvement in the humanitarian and security situation, resulting in the return of internally displaced people to their areas of origin”.
(AIM)
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