R984m for troops for Mozambique, but ‘most are still in training at home’

Almost two months after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced SA would contribute 1,495 soldiers to assist in stabilising Mozambique’s north against an extremist threat, SA’s main force has still not set foot in Cabo Delgado.

Ramaphosa informed parliament in July that the deployment would take effect on July 15 for an initial three-month period, at a cost of R984m.

However, so far only about 200 SA National Defence Force (SANDF) troops, mainly headquarters’ staff and an element from its Special Forces and Navy, are in Mozambique. The main battle force, with a contingent from the Lesotho Defence Force, is still preparing at the SANDF’s Combat Training Centre at Lohatlha in the Northern Cape.

Other countries within the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) mission in Mozambique (Samim), such as Botswana and Lesotho, deployed troops before July 15.

In response to an enquiry from Sunday Times Daily on July 27, Brig-Gen Mafi Mgobozi, the SANDF’s spokesperson, said the army “on Monday, 19 July 2021, deployed to Mozambique all relevant force elements prescribed by the SADC”.

But officers at Lohatlha told this publication this force would only be ready to move in late September. Its camp in the central business district of Cabo Delgado’s capital, Pemba, is now being prepared with sandbag perimeter walls for protection.

The SANDF did not respond to another enquiry to confirm and explain why the main force was still in SA.

Mozambique’s president, Filipe Nyusi, has already concluded a separate military agreement with Rwanda to provide a strike force against the extremists, who have waged a brutal onslaught against the population of Cabo Delgado since 2017.

A cost-sharing formula is used, where the SADC Contingency Fund shall cater for the sustainment costs of 40% of the force, while member states shall be responsible to cater for sustainment costs of the remaining 60%, as well as running costs of assets for the initial period of three months.

—  Mjr Nathalie Mfaladi, Samin spokesperson

The extremists took control of the strategic port city of Mocímboa da Praia in August last year and controlled all key roads towards the north. In March an insurgent attack trapped hundreds of expat contractors in Palma, where France’s Total had started constructing its Afungi camp as part of a $20bn (about R287bn) investment in the liquefied gas development. Two contractors, one of whom was South African, were killed in the attack, prompting the SADC to intervene.

The Rwanda Defence Force’s (RDF) initial 1,000 soldiers were deployed in early July. With Mozambican forces (FADM), they have since recaptured Mocímboa da Praia and removed extremists from their control points in skirmishes, killing at least 70. Road construction and the rebuilding of destroyed bridges have since started.

The RDF contingent has recently been strengthened by another 1,000 soldiers, meaning Rwanda now has a bigger force present in Mozambique than the combined forces of Samim.

In the meantime, the SADC forces have not ventured more than 200km from Pemba and are seemingly only patrolling the outskirts of the wider area around the town, Africa Intelligence recently reported.

According to an analysis of the Cabo Delgado situation, Rhula Intelligent Solutions, a risk management company and component of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), has established a presence near Mueda, about 200km north of Pemba. South Africans, presumably Special Forces, have been noticed at Macomia, about 153km north of Pemba.

According to Rhula, “[the SADC forces] have not been able to prevent insurgents fleeing from the northern war front to the south”.

Various reports have questioned the costs and purpose of Samim, while the RDF and the FADM are seemingly the only ones going into battle, especially as SA is the leading country, which appointed the force commander.

At a recent SADC summit, Jaime Neto, the Mozambican defence minister, said Samim is mostly used in the south of Cabo Delgabo, but he believes a larger offensive by the joint force will soon start.

Asked about the South African main force, Mjr Nathalie Mfaladi, spokesperson for Samim, said “all countries that pledged capabilities to Samim, including South Africa, have fully availed such capabilities”.

As such, it would seem the preparations at Lohatlha are considered part of the Mozambican deployment.

Mfaladi said Samim is now implementing a scenario in which rapid deploying troops consisting of Special Forces and maritime components are used for three months.

“[This is] subject to extension for further periods, depending on the evolution of the operational situation on the ground and a de-escalation of the threat. The situation on the ground will determine the length of stay of the Samim forces, after an assessment of the initial phase, and a recommendation will be made for approval by SADC. This assessment is ongoing.”

Mfaladi confirmed that a Botswanan soldier died in a vehicle accident, while a Tanzanian soldier was killed in “an incident involving an aircraft” in the Pemba district.

Asked about the cost of the operation, Mfaladi said “a cost-sharing formula is used, where the SADC Contingency Fund shall cater for the sustainment costs of 40% of the force, while member states shall be responsible to cater for sustainment costs of the remaining 60%, as well as running costs of assets for the initial period of three months”.

The almost R1bn announced by Ramaphosa is thus being spent on the deployment, as is an additional amount paid by the SADC, with the majority of the force not used against the extremists. This while the RDF and the FADM are doing the work. Rwanda is not a part of the SADC and is thus not partial to receive the 40% contribution.

Yet Mfaladi said “Samim would like to assure the people of Mozambique and SADC of a collective commitment to achieving a peaceful, stable and secure Cabo Delgado province, as well as the entire country of Mozambique”.