SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) has been extended by 12 months. The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) acting commander, Deputy Commissioner Mpho Mophuting revealed the development when appearing before Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this morning.
Mophuting was answering a question raised by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nata/Gweta constituency, Polson Majaga, who wanted to know when the mission will end.
Responding to Majaga's question, the commissioner stated that the mission had been extended by 12 months, an extension that was made a week ago.
"Initially, the mission was three months, then it was extended to six months, and last week it was extended by 12 months. We hope that at the end of this extension, the mission will come to an end unless the situation in Mozambique takes a new twist or changes for the worst," he said.
He further revealed that the mission has also been downgraded from scenario six to scenario five and it is anticipated that the mission will be completed in July 2024 unless otherwise. He stated that part of the troops are likely to return in December.
The mission started as a rapid deployment force where only highly trained soldiers were deployed. Later it was downgraded to scenario six and, recently, scenario five because the situation in Mozambique is now calm.
