The 25th Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics will deploy the SADC Force Brigade Plus to the DRC to address the security situation in that country.

The Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ and Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, made the announcement during the opening of the organ meeting in Windhoek.

The ongoing armed conflict in the DRC has affected thousands of families and created a humanitarian crisis.

Nandi-Ndaitwah says the details of the deployment will be finalised in the coming weeks.

"Due to the prevailing security situation in eastern DRC, our region deliberated and decided to deploy by September 30, 2023, a SADC Standby Force Brigade Plus, in support of the DRC to address the insecurity in the eastern part of the country. Of course, the details of the mission will be finalised in the next few months."

The organ also announced great strides in neutralising tourism in Mozambique, and the livelihoods of the internally displaced continue to be revived.

"The SAMIM has done its part and has made a great contribution to this achievement; however, In order to consolidate the gains made in the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado, the SADC Organ Troika Plus Virtual Meeting of July 11, 2023, is recommended for the upcoming SADC Summit in August, for the SAMIM to be extended for one year as of July 16, 2023."

The meeting will further deliberate on different issues faced by the region, such as the trafficking of persons, the revival of the tourism sector after COVID-19, and the strengthening of regional integration in the area of immigration.

"Unless our people are able to move freely within the region, We cannot talk about true integration. Member states that have not yet signed to ratify this protocol are encouraged to do so. In order to fully realise our regional integration agenda."