Govt Extends SA Troops Mandate in DRC, Ethiopia And Eritrea
Cabinet has extended the defence force's participation in the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by another two years until March 2007, Cabinet announced yesterday.
Cabinet also approved the extension of SA troop's involvement in the UN and African Union Missions in Ethiopia and Eritrea for an additional period of 24 months until March 2007
A Cabinet statement released after its Lekgotla in Cape Town yesterday said the involvement of SA troops in the DRC was to help the mineral-rich country attain lasting peace and democracy.
The UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) comprises SA, Mozambique and Lesotho.
"The involvement of SANDF Staff Officers, Specialised Elements, ordinary members and Military Police in MONUC is critical not only in assisting the process towards lasting peace and democracy in the DRC," said a Cabinet statement.
The DRC Transitional Government recently adopted a new interim Constitution in the capital Kinshasa, where warring leaders also agreed to postpone elections to a date still to be set by the election commission.
The adoption of the interim Constitution paves a way for peace and moves towards democratic elections since the former Belgium colony gained independence in 1960.
Cabinet added that SA participation in Monuc also provided an excellent opportunity for SA to "gain experience in a complex peacekeeping environment."
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26 Mai 2005 à 13:02 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
