Report: Financial troubles plague SADC mission in Cabo Delgado
0
0
A report in Africa Intelligence has laid bare the parlous state of the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), the force that was deployed to Cabo Delgado. Documents seen by the publication shows a shortfall of $34m of the total budget allocation of $72m since 2021. It names three countries who have not contributed to the mission for the 2022/23 budget – DR Congo, Madagascar, and Comoros.
This shortfall risks soldiers and administrators not being paid, with $5m being drawn from reserve and emergency funds to maintain the operation. The mandate of the force expires on the 15th of July 2023, with fears that the region could descend into further instability should SAMIM withdraw.
Despite the constraints, an internal SADC document seen by Africa Intelligence also outline the successes of the operation. Territory has been won in joint SADC / Forças Armadas de Defesa de Moçambique (FADM)operations, while intelligence suggests that certain insurgents are weighing up the option of deserting. There has been a decline in the number of attacks within the last few months, but despite this, the insurgents are deploying different battlefield tactics, including improvised explosive devices, and shoring up support of communities with cash payments.
Resources on the ground do not match the ambitions of the operation. The forces number just under 2000. SAMIM does not have any attack helicopters at its disposal. Naval capacity is very limited, even after the European Union supplied eight vessels for coastal patrols.
