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South Africa: Cabinet Approves SANDF Deployment in Uganda
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
20 March 2008
Posted to the web 20 March 2008
Shaun Benton
Cape Town
Cabinet has approved the deployment of members of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) to northern Uganda, as part of an African Union mission there.
Government spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Thursday the region has for years been plagued by violence in one of the continent's longest-running conflicts.
This has been perpetrated largely by a group of rebels, the Lord's Resistance Army, who have been accused of committing widespread and gross human rights violations.
Mr Maseko was speaking to reporters following a Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, in which it was also noted that the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) would be visiting a number of countries to assess their legislation regarding the fight against terrorism.
This assessment would include a look at their enforcement capacity, and national systems to implement anti-terror obligations in terms of United Nations Security Council resolutions and other international conventions, Mr Maseko said.
The UN team will be visiting South Africa in June this year, and will be guided by government's Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster.
Meanwhile, Cabinet has also approved the extension of the deployment of SANDF members to the Central African Republic and the troubled Darfur region in western Sudan to help strengthen of the UN/African Union Hybrid Force (UNAMID) there.
Eritrea and Ethiopia, which have experienced recent hostilities, are also to receive SANDF members as part of the UN Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) and the AU Liaison Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (OLMEE)
Further afield, Cabinet approved the extension of SANDF deployments to Nepal, as part of the United Nations UNMIN peacekeeping force situated there, he said.
These moves follow recent comments by Defense Minister Mosioua Lekota to the effect that South Africa will be heightening its peacekeeping efforts, as part of the country's international responsibilities.
Mr Maseko further underlined the purpose of these deployments when he said: "The deployment of our forces in these countries is part of South Africa's fulfillment of international obligations and a contribution to peace and stability in the continent and other parts of the world."
In another regional development, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) protocols, which provide the legal framework for member countries to cooperate in working towards achieving the objectives of the 14-nation region bloc, have been approved.
The approval is subject to SADC addressing South Africa's reservations regarding the proposed tax exemptions for officials and employees of SADC.
Another matter of protocols concerned that of the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) between South Africa and the European Union, where the ratification of an additional protocol to the TDCA was approved by Cabinet.
This comes amid ongoing discussions between South African representatives and those of the European Union in dealing with the agreement on an Economic Partnership Agreement.
In another regional development, the Cabinet meeting also noted that 55 observers will be going from South Africa to Zimbabwe to observe the March 29 general elections there.
The observers will be part of a total of 150 election observers from the SADC member countries who will be monitoring the elections there.
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The South African contingent is being drawn from representatives from civil society, business, religious leaders, members of parliament and government officials, Mr Maseko said.
The observer mission overall is being led by Angola, which currently chairs the SADC committee on peace, security and development.
Mr Maseko added: "The South African government appeals to all Zimbabweans to do everything in their power to create conditions that would ensure free and fair elections."
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