Mozambique hosts SADC Extraordinary Summit, strengthens relations with South Africa

The Republic of Mozambique has assumed the position of Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) since August 2012. Its capital city, Maputo, hosted the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State on February 8. The Summit was chaired by H.E. Armando Emilio Guebuza, the President of Mozambique, and considered the political and security situation in the region, in particular the latest developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The participants urged the African Union Commission and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to urgently engage the United Nations on the deployment of the Neutral International Force (NIF) in the eastern DRC and reiterated its decision to expedite the deployment.

This was also the opportunity for South African President Jacob Zuma and Mr Guebuza to discuss the "enhanced bilateral cooperation" between their respective countries. Firstly, the latter thanked the latter for South Africa's "rescue operation and humanitarian assistance during the floods by availing two helicopters and two fixed wings aircraft." On January 14, Southern Mozambique – Gaza Province, Chokwe district in particular – has experienced large amounts of rains which killed a number of people. Secondly, the two leaders underscored the need to strengthen the existing bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) which is a strategic mechanism of coordination. To conclude, Zuma and Guebuza expressed "great satisfaction at the warm and fraternal (bilateral) relations."

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