Cycle RECAMP V
Exercice Sawa 2006
Articles de Presse
Le document original peut être consulté sur le site de
Mmegi.
Il a été repris sur le site de
Allafrica.com.
Mogae Closes Peacekeeping Exercise
PHILLIMON MOLAODI
Staff Writer
6/24/2005 3:10:49 PM (GMT +2)
President Festus Mogae said yesterday that South African Development Community (SADC) has both the resolve and capacity to secure the region's future and security.
Speaking in Maun
at the closing ceremony of the two-week regional peacekeeping initiative
dubbed "Exercise Thokgamo", Mogae said that not long ago, the region
turned the corner with the end of apartheid and the armed struggle.
"Today we are increasingly able to enjoy the fruits of sustained peace,"
he said.
He added that the successful completion of the international peace-keeping exercise attended by French military officers was a clear testimony and demonstration to the world that the region has both the will and capacity to secure its own future, while contributing to wider security efforts. Mogae said the concept of peacekeeping through armed capacity is not alien but is rooted in the indigenous traditions of the region.
The embedded roots emanate from the fact that most of the indigenous societies had systems of age regiments whose primary purpose was to maintain social peace.
"From being a location of international concern and political rivalry, southern Africa has thus been transformed into an example for others of what can be achieved through reconciliation and common purpose," Mogae said.
He added that the nations of SADC are at peace with themselves and are increasingly engaged in international efforts to bring peace to the rest of the world.
Moage said the just ended exercise has been a significant milestone in the road towards ensuring the security of the region and the continent in general. He said the exercise laid the foundation for an effective SADC standby brigade.
"Besides being positioned to react to local threats, this brigade will become a pillar of the all African stand-by force, which is being established by the African Union (AU)."
He said as envisaged in Article 4 of the AU Charter, the continental body had made strides towards the establishment of a peace and security council as part of the ongoing efforts to develop a common security policy by 2010. Mogae was optimistic that "Exercise Thokgamo has been a practical manifestation of regional self-reliance and Pan-African ideals.
He said it shows the potential for wider multilateral partnership in meeting global security challenges.
Exercise Thokgamo was partly sponsored by France through its Re-enforcement of African Capabilities in Peacekeeping Programme (RECAMP). The exercise was held in the larger part of the Ngamiland District.
It was a brigade sized multinational peace support operation conducted by military detachments from SADC member states and France. About 3,300 people participated in the event. They came from international organisations, NGOs, the police service and the military.
The commander of the exercise was the BDF's Brigadier Letsogile Motsumi.
