. . . but regional defence chiefs to determine size, tenure
Ngoni Muzofa
THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) has acquiesced to Lesotho’s request for a standby force comprising military, security, intelligence and civilian experts to assist the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) in managing the security crisis in the country.
However, the bloc has mandated defence and security chiefs from the region to determine the size, tenure and scope of the contingent force before its deployment to the Mountain Kingdom.
This is the outcome of SADC’s one-day Double Troika Summit held on Friday in Pretoria, South Africa.
The summit, which was attended by representatives of the governments of Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Tanzania, was convened in light of the recent assassination of Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) commander, Lieutenant-General Khoantle Motšomotšo by his subordinates.
Lt-Gen Motšomotšo was shot dead at his Ratjomose barracks office allegedly by Brigadier Bulane Sechele who was accompanied by Colonel Tefo Hashatsi and Major Pitso Ramoepane. Brig Sechele was killed in a hail of bullets by Lt-Gen Motšomotšo’s bodyguards soon afterwards, while Col Hashatsi died of his wounds in a nearby hospital.
Maj Ramoepane was on Thursday charged with murdering Lt-Gen Motšomotšo in the Magistrate’s Court. Lt-Gen Motšomotšo was laid to rest in his home village of Ha Lesaoana in Butha-Buthe.
After the assassination, SADC had ordered the deployment of a standby force from South Africa, Angola and Mozambique to Lesotho to prevent the latest bout of instability in the country from spiralling out of control.
However, only South Africa deployed an advance mission to Lesotho whose number has not been divulged for security reasons.
Ahead of the summit, Lesotho wanted between 300 and 400 troops who would provide security during the implementation of SADC-mandated multi-sectoral reforms which encompass the military in addition to quelling any possible coup attempt by disgruntled soldiers.
The Double Troika Summit is mandated with providing member states with direction regarding threats to peace, security and stability in the region.
Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and SADC facilitator to Lesotho, South African Vice-President Cyril Ramaphosa, were also in attendance.
A communique issued after the summit acknowledges the findings of a SADC Ministerial Double Troika fact-finding mission which was in Lesotho earlier this month.
Led by Angolan Foreign Affairs Minister, Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, the fact-finding mission conducted an assessment of the security situation in Lesotho and held meetings with key stakeholders in the country “in order to establish the root causes of the assassination and subsequently recommend the appropriate courses of action”.
Reads part of the communique: “Summit 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. “Summit also noted an 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 the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry.”
The Double Troika agreed to the deployment of a standby force, only after the assessment of the defence chiefs.
“Summit approved the deployment of a Contingent Force comprising military, security, intelligence and civilian experts to support the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho, and directed the Chiefs of Defence and Security to assess the requirements, determine the appropriate size of the contingent, and to prepare the modalities for the deployment.”
Dr Thabane’s Press Attaché Thabo Thakalekoala yesterday confirmed the development, saying the defence and security chiefs were yet to meet and make the determination.
“SADC has approved the deployment of a contingent force in Lesotho,” he said.
“But before such a force can be deployed in Lesotho, SADC mandated the military chiefs from the region to meet as soon as possible, assess the situation, determine the number of troops that will be deployed as well as the period of their stay.”
Mr Thakalekoala continued: “After they have done that, that’s when it will be announced when the troops will be in the country and for how long.”
While maintaining the terms of reference and composition of the Oversight Committee, the Double Troika expanded its mandate and composition to 34 members. Added to its ranks are military, security, intelligence and civilian experts for immediate deployment to Lesotho for one month.
Led by retired Tanzanian judge, Justice Frederic Mwita Werema, the Oversight Committee was established by an extraordinary summit of the Double Troika on 3 July 2015 in Pretoria, South Africa to monitor the implementation of SADC decisions regarding the political and security situation in Lesotho.
The committee — which initially had 10 members — was also tasked with providing assistance in the implementation of constitutional, security and public sector reforms in Lesotho.