Windhoek – SA President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Namibia for the SADC Extraordinary meeting of the Organ Troika on Politics, Defence & Security Cooperation, widely expected to discuss the escalation of political violence in the region.
The Extraordinary Summit on Tuesday, (31 January 2023), is expected to consider the state of peace and security in the region, with a particular focus on the political and security situations in the Kingdoms of Eswatini and Lesotho as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.
Ramaphosa was received at the Hosea Kutako International Airport by SA International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor, Namibian Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Pohamba Penomwenyo Shifeta, and High Commissioner of the Republic of SA to Namibia, Thenjiwe Ethel Mtintso.
Apart from Dr. Pandor, the SA President is accompanied by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise; and Minister in The Presidency Mondli Gungubele.
The 42nd SADC Summit of the Heads of State and Government held in August 2022 mandated the Chairperson of the Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, President Hage Geingob of Namibia, to convene the Summit to consider the peace and security situation in the region.
The Summit was preceded by meetings of senior officials and the Ministerial Committee of the Organ Troika.
SADC is a Regional Economic Community of the following Member States: Republic of Angola, Republic of Botswana, Union of the Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kingdom of Eswatini, Kingdom of Lesotho, Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Mauritius, Republic of Mozambique, Republic of Namibia, Seychelles, Republic of South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Zambia and the Republic of Zimbabwe.
South Africa was the outgoing Chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
