20 May 2024

 The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has expressed solidarity with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following an attempted coup on the legally constituted government of the country on Sunday.

The solidarity was expressed by the SADC chairperson, who is also the Angola President, Mr Joao Lourenco when officially closing the virtual summit of the SADC Heads of States and governments on El Nino-induced droughts and floods yesterday.

“We can only be happy that the situation ended favourable as the attempts were thwarted by the army. This was also favorable to the continuation of the legally instituted power. Democracy and the people’s will have won,” he said.

Mr Lourenco also appreciated the Heads of State of member countries for taking time to participate in the extra ordinary summit, which was preceded by the joint meeting of ministers.

He said that the Heads of State managed to deal with a very important issue that affected the people and economies of the region, which needed the region to mobilise an appeal for financial assistance and dealing with the negative impacts of the El Nino phenomenon, such as droughts and floods.

“There is a need to mobilise financial and material resources so that we can try and see if we can overcome the losses that member states have suffered as a consequence of floods induced by the El Nino. 

“It is important that we managed to launch the humanitarian appeal and we hope that there would be due feedback on the part of the international community to support us and help us overcome this difficult moment that the region is facing,” said Mr Lourenco.

Meanwhile SADC executive secretary, Mr Elias Magosi also expressed the same sentiments when he read out part of the draft resolutions of the summit.

“The summit strongly condemn the attempted coup by a group of nationals and foreign tourists to destabilise institutions of the DRC on May 2024, and it reaffirms its categorical opposition to any unconstitutional change of government,” he said.

He therefore, said that the summit expressed its solidarity with the Congolese people and reiterated SADC’s commitment to support efforts of the DRC authorities to safeguard its territorial integrity and sovereignty and ensure the security of its population.

Mr Magosi also said that the summit acknowledged the gratitude expressed to it by Congolese President, Dr Felix Tshisekedi for solidarity with his country in light of the attempted coup.

The summit also noted and appreciated the selfless contribution to the region by the late Namibian president, Dr Hage Geingob. ENDS