THE Double Troika Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has approved deployment of a contingent force to support the government of the Kingdom of Lesotho, following assassination of Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), Lieutenant General Khoantle Motsomotso.The summit convened in South Africa following the assassination on September 5, 2017, decided that the contingent force should comprise the military, security, intelligence and civilian experts and has directed the chiefs of defence and security to assess requirements, determine the appropriate size and prepare the modalities for deployment.
Ambassador Innocent Shiyo of the Department of Regional Cooperation from the Tanzania Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation noted that the summit strongly condemned the brutal assassination and expressed condolences to the family of the late LDF commander, government and people of the Kingdom of Lesotho.Mr Shiyo said that upon the assassination, the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics Defence and Security Cooperation, Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos, immediately sent a Ministerial Fact Finding Mission to Lesotho to assess the circumstances surrounding the killing.The summit that was held at OR Tambo Building, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria, South Africa on September 15, 2017, received a report of the Ministerial Fact Finding Mission and noted the volatile security situation and its implications for the political stability of the Kingdom of Lesotho.“The Summit also noted urgent need to assist the Kingdom of Lesotho in restoring law and order and a peaceful environment conducive to among others, the implementation of SADC decisions specifically, Security Sector and Constitutional Reforms as well as recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry,” the Diplomat said.The Summit urged the Kingdom to expedite investigations into the assassinations of Lt. Gen Matsomatso as well as that of former Lesotho Defence Force Commander General Maaparanko Mahao in 2015.
The killing follows recent arrest of several soldiers in connection with the murder of Gen Mahao.Ambassador Shiyo unveiled in a communiqué that the interim summit was attended by South African President, Mr Jacob Zuma; Swaziland’s King Mswati III; The Prime Minister of Namibia, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila; Minister for External Relations of Angola, Mr Georges Rebelo Chikoti, Zambian Minister of Defence, Davis Chama, Tanzanian High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr Sylvester Ambokile.
Ambassador Shiyo noted that the Prime Minister of Kingdom of Lesotho, Dr Motsoahae Thabane was also invited while the Double Troika Summit was also attended by the SADC Facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho who is the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and the Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax.
In the interim meeting, members approved an expanded mandate and composition of a total of 34 members of the Oversight Committee to be deployed to Lesotho immediately for a period of one month. The summit maintained the terms of reference and composition of the Oversight Committee as approved by the 37th SADC Ordinary Summit.
Ambassador Shiyo said the summit commended the Government of Angola, the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics Defence and Security Cooperation, President Dos Santos for his prompt action and generosity in facilitating the fact finding mission to the Kingdom of Lesotho.
It thanked the Chairperson of SADC, President Zuma for hosting the Double Troika Summit and for the hospitality extended to all delegations.
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