SADC Extra-Ordinary Summit

The Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania from 7 - 8 December 2012.

On Democratic Republic of Congo, Summit:

(i) reaffirmed the indivisibility and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo;

(ii) expressed deep concern regarding the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC due to the prevailing situation;

(iii) strongly condemned the M23 and all its attacks on the civilian population, United Nations Peacekeepers and humanitarian actors, as well as its abuses of human rights, including summary executions, sexual and gender based violence;

(iv) affirmed that SADC, as a block will deploy the SADC Standby Force in the Eastern DRC under the auspices of the Neutral International Force (NIF)

(v) welcomed the decision of the ICGLR to mandate the United Republic of Tanzania to appoint a Force Commander for the NIF to be deployed in the Eastern DRC;

(vi) mandated the SADC Interstate Politics and Diplomacy Committee (ISPDC) and the SADC Secretariat to work together with the ICGLR to engage the African Union Peace and the United Nations Security Council for support to the deployment and sustenance;

(vi) urged UN to change MONUSCO mandate to the United Nations Chapter VII;

(vii) commended the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of South Africa for pledging one battalion and logistics support for the NIF respectively; and

(viii) commended the DRC for contributing funds for the deployment of the NIF.

Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government and or their representatives:
DRC: H.E. President Joseph Kabila Kabange
Lesotho: Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Thomas Motsoahae Thabane
Mozambique: H.E. President Armando Emilio Guebuza
Namibia: H.E. President Hifikepunye Pohamba
South Africa: H.E. President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
United Republic: H.E. President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania
Angola: H.E. Manuel Domingos Vicente - Vice President
Malawi: Rt. Hon. Khumbo Kachali, Vice President
Seychelles: H.E. Danny Faure, Vice President
Zambia: Hon. Dr. Guy Scotts, Vice President
Swaziland: Rt. Hon. Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini, Prime Minister
Botswana: Hon. Phandu Skelemani, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Zimbabwe: Hon. Simbarashe S. Mumbengengwi, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mauritius: H.E. Mohammed Ismael Dossa, High Commissioner to South Africa

Summit was also attended by His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda and the Chairperson of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR); and His Excellency Joaquim Alberto Chissano, former President of the Republic of Mozambique, and SADC Mediator on the political conflict in Madagascar.

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