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SADC Mission in Mozambique

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Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique
LeadersProf. Mpho Molomo (Mission Head);[1] Maj Gen. Xolani Mankayi (Force Commander).[2]
Dates of operationJuly 15, 2021 – present[1]
(3 years, 3 months and 1 day)
Country SADC
HeadquartersPemba, Mozambique
Active regionsNorthern Mozambique
SizeBrigade
AlliesMozambique Mozambique
Rwanda Rwanda
OpponentsAl-Shabaab mercenaries[3]

ISIL

Battles and warsInsurgency in Cabo Delgado

The Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) is an active regional peacekeeping mission operated by the Southern African Development Community in Northern Mozambique's Cabo Delgado Province.[5]

Map of the Operational Area

Background

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Further information: Insurgency in Cabo Delgado

Authorisation

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SAMIM was deployed on 15 July 2021 following its approval by the Extraordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique on 23 June 2021.[1] On 2 January 2022, at a summit of SADC Summit of Heads of State Malawi's capital Lilongwe, agreement was given to extend the troop deployment in Mozambique to help the government fight an Islamic State-linked insurgency.[6]

Leadership and command

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Head of Mission

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No. Name Nationality From To Note
1 Prof. Mpho Molomo  Botswana 15 July 2021 Incumbent

Force Commanders

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No. Name Nationality From To Note
1 Maj. Gen. Xolani Mankayi  South Africa 15 July 2021 Incumbent

Deputy Force Commanders

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No. Name Nationality From To Note
1 Brigadier Dumisani Ndzinge[7]  Botswana 15 July 2021 8 February 2022
2 Brigadier Simon Barwabatsile  Botswana 8 February 2022 Incumbent

Force organization

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Force structure

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SADC Flag

The envisioned deployment was around an infantry brigade sized force with maritime and air elements attached.
Ground forces

Logistics

  • 1x Level II field hospital.
  • 1x Field recovery unit
  • 1x Field workshop unit
  • 1x Field mobile stores unit

Maritime

Air

  • 2x UAV's
  • 6x Helicopters
  • 4x Transport Aircraft

Contingents

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The following contingents have been deployed so far:

Botswana soldiers board a Botswana Defence Force plane to Mozambique, July 2021

Angola contingent

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Angolan Armed Forces deployed 20 personnel and an Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft to the mission.[8][9]

South Africa contingent

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South African National Defence Force has an approved force strength of 1495 personnel.[8] Deployed elements include personnel and assets from the South African Air Force South African Navy, South African Army, South African Military Health Service & South African Special Forces

Botswana contingent

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Botswana Defence Force Deployed 296 personnel to the mission in July 2021.[10]

Lesotho contingent

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Lesotho Defence Force has deployed 125 personnel to the mission.[11] The contingent was airlifted by an Angolan Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 transport to the mission.[12]

Tanzania contingent

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Tanzania People's Defence Force was reported to be deploying 274 troops to the mission.[13][14]

Namibia Contingent

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Namibian Defence Force deployed a contingent of 8 Officers in March 2022.[15]

Deployment

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An advance element of the South African Special Forces deployed to Pemba via South African Air Force C-130 Aircraft, the main body and equipment were deployed by road. Botswana Defence Force Commandos also deployed via Botswana Defence Force C-130 to Pemba, the main body of equipment deployed by road to Northern Mozambique. Lesotho Defence Force personnel and equipment were airlifted to Northern Mozambique by Angolan transport aircraft.[16]

Operations

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The SADC states also began with their offensive in August 2021, with SAMIM troops becoming involved in combat operations for the first time.[17] On 24 August rebels reportedly ambushed SAMIM troops in Naquitengue, near Mbau,.[18] On 28 August, SAMIM troops reportedly raided an insurgent position at Muera River, capturing equipment and documents.[17] In September 2021 SAMIM troops also began to deploy in Niassa Province; groups of insurgents were suspected of having retreated or otherwise relocated to Niassa.[19] Other bands of rebels were moving further south, away from the combat zone of the Messalo River.[20] These groups relocated to Quissanga and Macomia District, where the rebels began a series of attacks on local villages, massacring dozens of civilians.[20][21] SAMIM claimed to have captured the "Sheikh Ibrahim base" in northern Macomia District from rebels on 14 September.[21] 24 September a report from the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) reported that a Tanzanian soldier and 17 insurgents were killed in an attack on an insurgent base near Chitama, in southeastern Nangade district.[22] On 19 December Mozambique's defence minister claimed Mozambican and SAMIM soldiers killed ten insurgents after storming an ISIS camp in Cabo Delgado.[23] On 20 December 2021 A patrol consisting of South African Special Forces and Mozambican ground troops were ambushed by ISIS east of Chai village. A number of Mozambican soldiers as well as a single South African special forces operator were killed in the attack. Several other soldiers were injured. This marked the first death of a South African special forces operator in combat since the South African Border War.[23] On 5 February 2022 A patrol of Mozambican, Rwandan and SAMIM soldiers was ambushed near Nova Zambezia, Macomia district, resulting in a Mozambican soldier KIA and five insurgent attackers eliminated.[24] On 9 February 2022 a Botswana Defence Force soldier died in Mueda, Cabo Delgado Province Mozambique due to unnamed cause. In February the Zambia Air Force announced that it had deployed as single C-27 cargo plane to Pemba, Mozambique.[25] South Africa was reported to be deploying an entire battle group as part of its rotation, replacing largely its Special Forces Contingent[26]

Casualties

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Southern African Development Community :: SADC MISSION IN MOZAMBIQUE (SAMIM) IN BRIEF". www.sadc.int. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Southern African Development Community :: SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. Elias M. Magosi visits SADC Mission in Mozambique". www.sadc.int. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Mozambique: Former Policemen Train Islamist Group". Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo). 30 April 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  4. ^ Weiss, Caleb (4 June 2019). "Islamic State claims first attack in Mozambique". Long War Journal. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  5. ^ Dzinesa, Gwinyayi A. (2023). "The Southern African Development Community's Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM): Policymaking and Effectiveness". International Peacekeeping. doi:10.1080/13533312.2023.2184687. ISSN 1353-3312.
  6. ^ "Southern African bloc extends Mozambique troop deployment". Reuters. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  7. ^ "SADC troops continue their fight against insurgents in the Cabo Delgado region of Mozambique". YouTube. SABC.
  8. ^ a b Chutel, Lynsey (28 July 2021). "SA to send 1 495 troops to Mozambique". News24. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Angola sending military advisors to Mozambique". DefenceWeb. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  10. ^ "South African military deploys troops to Pemba, northern Mozambique". Africanews. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  11. ^ "LDF CONTINGENT ADVANCED TEAM LEAVES FOR MOZAMBIQUE". 12 August 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2023 – via LENA.
  12. ^ Martin, Guy (10 August 2021). "SADC Mozambique force bolstered by Lesotho as Rwandans retake key port". DefenceWeb. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  13. ^ Römer-Heitman, Helmoed; Binnie, Jeremy (12 August 2021). "SADC mission in Mozambique launched". Janes.com. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  14. ^ Fabricius, Peter (11 January 2022). "CABO DELGADO INSURGENCY: 'Wars can't be fought on the cheap': Experts and special forces call for more infantry and equipment in Mozambique". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Send-off ceremony of the Namibia's contingent to the Republic of Mozambique". The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2023 – via www.facebook.com.
  16. ^ Mohau, Nkoateleng. "Ldf Contingent Advanced Team Leaves For Mozambique – Government Of Lesotho". Gov.ls. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Cabo Ligado Weekly: 30 August-5 September". Cabo Ligado (ACLED, Zitamar News, Mediafax). 7 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  18. ^ "By the Numbers: Cabo Delgado, October 2017-November 2021". Cabo Ligado (ACLED, Zitamar News, Mediafax). 16 November 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Cabo Ligado Weekly: 6–12 September". Cabo Ligado (ACLED, Zitamar News, Mediafax). 14 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Cabo Ligado Weekly: 13–19 September". Cabo Ligado (ACLED, Zitamar News, Mediafax). 21 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Cabo Ligado Weekly: 20–26 September". Cabo Ligado (ACLED, Zitamar News, Mediafax). 28 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  22. ^ "Cabo Ligado Weekly: 20–26 September". CaboLigado.com.
  23. ^ a b "SADC Summit focuses on Mozambique insurgency: 5 January 2022". Defence Web.
  24. ^ "Cabo Ligado Weekly: 31 January-6 February 2022". Cabo Ligado.
  25. ^ "Cabo Ligado Weekly: 7-13 February 2022". Cabo Ligado.
  26. ^ Gibson, Erika. "SANDF deploys Combat Team Alpha to fight Mozambique insurgents". News24.
  27. ^ "Botswana soldier dies in Mozambique accident - Official". apanews.net.
  28. ^ "Botswana soldier dead in Mozambique accident". 5 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Mozambique: SADC military mission pledges to 'neutralise cruelty of terrorism'". Mozambique.
  30. ^ "Tanzanian soldier killed as SADC forces overrun another insurgent base". 28 September 2021.
  31. ^ "Lesotho soldier is latest SAMIM fatality". 6 December 2021.
  32. ^ "The remains of the late Private Moalosi Jacob Khoaele of the Lesotho Defence force who passed on while on duty in Mozambique have arrived at the Mejametalana Airbase". PC FM. 30 November 2021.
  33. ^ "Military Ombud sends condolences to family of Corporal Tebogo Edwin Radebe | South African Government". www.gov.za.
  34. ^ Sefularo, Masechaba. "SANDF: We are proud Corporal Tebogo Radebe died while serving his country". ewn.co.za.
  35. ^ "Another BDF soldier dies in Mozambique". Mmegi Online. 10 February 2022.
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