Peace and security are pivotal to achieving regional integration and socio-economic development in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. However, the SADC region has been experiencing political tensions and military conflicts which have slowed the progress and potential of regional integration.
The Southern African region has been advocating, peace, security and regional cooperation in the defence sector for many decades. To this end, the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) was established in 1980 and replaced in 1992 by SADC[1]. Prior to this, the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC) was established in 1971 to ensure security and defence cooperation in the Southern African region. The ISDSC was instrumental in the fight against the colonial regimes in the struggle for freedom. The ISDSC continues to play its role to maintain the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the member states[2]. Apart from that, there is a mutual defence pact that aims to promote peace, security, stability, and wellbeing of people. The mutual defence pact aims to ensure close cooperation in politics, defence, and security. The mutual defence pact shall promote peace within the region through mediation and negotiation[3].
Currently, the state defence industry in SADC remains much at the level of military cooperation and assistance in developing individual and collective self-defence capacity to maintain peace, stability, and security[4]. The defence sector in SADC is focused on maintaining peace, stability, and security[5]. Any military action between member states shall be decided under the mutual defence pact, and the state’s own request or with its consent[6]. However, the SADC defence sector is still facing major challenges such as armed conflicts within member states, armed trafficking, lack of military capacity and trained units to ensure durable peace and security in the region[7].
Table 1: Summary of National Defence Forces in SADC[8]
| Country | Army | Airforce | Navy | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angola[9] | 100,000* | 6,000 | 1,000 | 107,000 | Not Indicated |
| Botswana[10] | 10,000 | 2,500 | 12,500 | Not Indicated | |
| Comoros | |||||
| DRC[11] | 115,000 | 2,500 | 2,900 | 120,400 | Not Indicated |
| Eswatini | |||||
| Lesotho[12] | 2,000 | 110 | 2,110 | Not Indicated | |
| Madagascar[13] | 13,800 | 700 | 350 | 14,850 | Not Indicated |
| Malawi[14] | 7,000 | 200 | 220 | 7,420 | Not Indicated |
| Mauritius[15] | 750 | 750 | Not Indicated | ||
| Mozambique | 13,000 | 1,000 | 200 | 14,200 | Not Indicated |
| Namibia[16] | 8,000 | 500 | 8,500 | Not Indicated | |
| Seychelles[17] | 1,000 | 100 | 200 | 1,300 | Not Indicated |
| South Africa[18] | 40,121 | 10,815 | 7,702 | 58,638 | As at March 2014 |
| Tanzania[19] | 42,000 | 800 | 1,050 | 43,850 | Not Indicated |
| Zambia[20] | 16,500* | 1,600 | 18,100 | Not Indicated | |
| Zimbabwe[21] | 25,000 | 4,000 | 29,000 | Not Indicated |
*Include reserves
In terms of the Army force, countries such as South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Angola and DRC have the largest army force capacity in the SADC region. In terms of the air force, Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe have the largest air force capacity. South Africa and DRC have the largest navy force capacity in the region[22]. The countries with the smallest navy force capacities are Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Seychelles. Lesotho, Madagascar, and Malawi have the smallest air force capacity. Lesotho and Seychelles have the smallest army force in the region. Comoros and Eswatini do not have the military capacity[23].
Angola, DRC, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe are SADC member states with the largest total military capacity of 358,888. Angola, DRC, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe have a total military capacity force respectively of 107,000; 120,400; 58638; 43,850 and 29,000[24]. Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia and Seychelles are SADC member states with the smallest total military capacity of 20,080. Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia and Seychelles have a total military capacity force respectively of 2,110; 7,420; 750; 8500; and 1,300[25].
Military forces have become increasingly important and in many cases, SADC has taken measures including peacekeeping operations, military and humanitarian interventions to address the political challenges. Some SADC member states have experienced highly contest elections which has led to post-election violence in the region (for example, in Lesotho, Zimbabwe, DRC and Madagascar)[26]. This has impacted peace, security and stability in the region, and disrupted regional cooperation and integration. This is where the military forces come to play in maintaining peace mediation, security and military intervention to address the political conflicts.
Concerning the SADC military capacity force, the SADC Brigade force was established in 2008 and aimed to support peace and security operations[27]. The SADC Brigade forces form part of the regional component of the African Union’s Standby Force. The SADC brigade force participates in missions following the peace and security protocols of the African Union and the SADC Treaty[28]. The SADC brigade force comprises the military, the police, and civilian members from SADC member states.
With regard to regional peacekeeping, SADC countries are active contributors to United Nation and African Union. SADC countries provide peace support operations in terms of military observers, civilian police, and the blue helmets[29]. Countries such as Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been involved in a peacekeeping missions on the African continent. For instance, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Tanzania have military troops in the peacekeeping to the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (MONUSCO)[30].
In 2013, the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) was created as a special force component of the MONUSCO to fight against armed and rebel groups that destabilise and commit criminal violence affecting the communities living in the eastern parts of the DRC[31]. The FIB was a joint force composed of South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi as the three SADC member states. The main objective of the FIB was to eliminate the imminent threat posed by the M23 rebels (a Rwandan-backed group rebel) in the eastern DRC[32]. The FIB received logistics and operational support from the United Nation and successfully eradicated the M23 rebels. However, the situation in the eastern parts of the DRC remains tense by the ongoing unrest, killing and chronic violence committed by the presence of numerous armed groups pursuing different political and economic interests. Recently, the DRC government declared a state of siege to effectively deal with the insecurity and eradicate all the destabalizing forces in the eastern part of the DRC in the province of Ituri, South Kivu and North Kivu[33].
The recent emergence of Islamic attacks causing the insecurity in the oil-rich Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique led SADC member states to agree on the military deployment. In the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the SADC held in Maputo, on the 23rd June 2021, the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (OPDSC) approved the mandate for the deployment of the SADC Standby Force mission to the Republic of Mozambique, in support to combat the terrorist attacks in the Cabo Delgado province[34]. The aim is to restore stability and security in the Cabo Delgado province by neutralising the terrorist threat[35]. Prior to that, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi had been reluctant to accept the SADC intervention. The Mozambican government was advocating a technical mission that includes, technical training and logistics support[36].
Further, at the same Extraordinary summit held on the 23rd June 2021, the SADC member states also have agreed to provide humanitarian intervention to assist the local population affected by the Islamic attacks and displaced people fleeing the violence[37].
The SADC defence industry still has to address major challenges (e.g., political conflicts, armed conflicts and terrorism acts) that are impacting peace, security, and stability in the region. The SADC defence industry remains somewhat passive and continues to use a diplomatic approach, rather than decisive actions (e.g., military operations) to resolve conflicts. The SADC’s intervention has produced mixed results in resolving civil and political conflicts in the region. This will require substantial financial investment in defence forces to increase the military capacity and reinforce cooperation in the defence sector between member states. To achieve better outcomes, the OPDSC needs to understand the cause roots of instability in the region. Often, conflicts are associated with bad governance of natural resources and limited access of the local communities to the economic resources generated. The SADC Standby Force needs to be capacitated and well-resourced to respond efficiently in situations of army attacks, terrorism and other violent criminal activity in the SADC region. SADC countries need to review how to design effective approaches towards conflicts prevention, management, and resolution processes. A harmonised and coordinated effort is required between SADC member states and other regional actors in conflict resolution to bring durable peace, security, and stability in the region.
by Serge Hadisi
[1] SADC 2010. Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, on the Southern Africa Development Community Website, viewed on 11 June 2021, from https://www.sadc.int/files/3213/7951/6823/03514_SADC_SIPO_English.pdf
[2] SADC 2012a. Defence, on the Southern Africa Development Community Website, viewed on 8 June 2021, from https://www.sadc.int/themes/politics-defence-security/defence/; SADC 2010. Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, supra.
[3] SADC 2012a. Defence, supra.
[4] SADC 2003. SADC Mutual Defence Pact, on the Southern Africa Development Community Website, viewed on 8 June 2021, from https://www.sadc.int/documents-publications/show/SADC_Mutual_Defence_Pact2003.pdf
[5] SADC 2010. Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, supra
[6] SADC 2003. SADC Mutual Defence Pact, supra.
[7] SADC 2012a. Defence, supra.
[8] DW 2021a. African Militaries, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/category/security/african-militaries/
[9] DW 2021b. Angolan Armed force, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/angola/
[10] DW 2021c. Botswana Defence Force, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/botswana/
[11] DW 2021d. Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/democratic-republic-of-congo/
[12] DW 2021e. Lesotho Defence Force, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/lesotho-defence-force/
[13] DW 2021f. Madagascar People’s Armed Forces, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/madagascar-peoples-armed-forces/
[14] DW 2021g. Malawi Defence Force, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/malawi-defence-force/
[15] DW 2021h. Mauritius military, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/mauritius-military/
[16] DW 2021i. Namibia Defence Force, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/namibia-defence-force/
[17] DW 2021j. Seychelles People’s Defence Forces, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/seychelles-peoples-defence-forces/
[18] DW 2021k. South African National Defence Force, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/south-african-national-defence-force/
[19] DW 2021l. Tanzania People’s Defence Force, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/tanzania-peoples-defence-force/
[20] DW 2021m. Zambia Defence Force, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/zambia-defence-force/
[21] DW 2021n. Zimbabwe Defence Forces, on the Defence Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/african-militaries/zimbabwe-defence-forces/
[22] See Table 1
[23] See Table 1
[24] See Table 1
[25] See Table 1
[26] PESA 2017. Impacts of Political Uncertainty on Growth in SADC, on the PESA Website, viewed on 7 July 2021, from https://politicaleconomy.org.za/2017/09/impacts-of-political-uncertainty-on-growth-in-sadc/
[27] SADC 2012b. Regional Peacekeeping, on the Southern Africa Development Community Website, viewed on 11 June 2021, from https://www.sadc.int/themes/politics-defence-security/regional-peacekeeping/
[28] SADC 2012c.Standby Force and SADC Brigade, on the Southern Africa Development Community Website, viewed on 11 June 2021, from https://www.sadc.int/themes/politics-defence-security/regional-peacekeeping/standby-force/
[29] SADC 2012b. Regional Peacekeeping, on the Southern Africa Development Community Website, viewed on 11 June 2021, from https://www.sadc.int/themes/politics-defence-security/regional-peacekeeping/
[30] DW 2021n. African Militaries, on the Defence Website, viewed on 30 June 2021, from. https://www.defenceweb.co.za/category/security/african-militaries/
[31] ISS 2020. Asking the Right Questions about the Force Intervention Brigade, on the Institute for Security Studies Website, viewed on 4 June 2021, from https://issafrica.org/iss-today/asking-the-right-questions-about-the-force-intervention-brigade
[32] ISSAFRICA 2020. Asking the Right Questions about the Force Intervention Brigade, supra.
[33] MONUSCO 2021. State of siege: MONUSCO determined to support DRC Security Force, on the United Nations Organisation Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo Website, viewed on 16 June 2021, from https://monusco.unmissions.org/en/state-siege-monusco-determined-support-drc-security-forces
[34] SADC 2021. Communiqué of the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, 23rd June 2021, on the Southern African Development Community Website, viewed on 29 June 2021, from https://www.sadc.int/news-events/news/communique-extraordinary-summit-sadc-heads-state-and-government/
[35] DM 2021. SADC Military Officials to propose a 3000-Strong Rapid Response force to Take on Mozambique Jihadists, on the Daily Maverick, viewed on 3 June 2021, from https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-04-27-sadc-military-officials-to-propose-a-3000-strong-rapid-response-force-to-take-on-mozambique-jihadists/
[36] DM 2021. SADC Military Officials to propose a 3000-Strong Rapid Response force to Take on Mozambique Jihadists, supra; DW 2021. SADC Decides on another Summit as It Hold off on Military Response to Mozambique, on the Defence Web, viewed on 3 June 2021, from https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/sadc-mozambique-summit-decides-on-another-summit/
[37] SADC 2021. Communiqué of the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, 23rd June 2021, supra.
