SECURITY THREATS: SADC seeks early warning
DAR ES SALAAM: THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers convene in Dar es Salaam today for the 27th Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security (MCO).
Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabiti Kombo, told reporters yesterday that a key focus of the discussions will be the establishment of an early warning system to monitor and identify security threat indicators across the region.
The system will facilitate the recognition of factors that pose threats to political, social and economic activities.
Ambassador Mahmoud Thabiti Kombo said that the ministers are convening to deliberate on the escalating conflicts, enhance conflict prevention systems, manage and resolve a number of issues that have been arising among member states.
The meeting, which he will chair will run up to to- morrow at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC), with over 300 delegates in attendance.
The 27th MCO meeting is being held following the session of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials of the SADC Ministerial Committee on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, which took place from July 21 to 22.
“This meeting will review the progress achieved and develop strategies to address the political and security challenges facing the SADC region. It will also explore ways to strengthen conflict prevention mechanisms,” said Ambassador Kombo.
He added that the meeting is one of SADC’s highest decision making forums, held annually in July and brings together ministers and senior officials responsible for foreign affairs, defence, security and internal affairs from all 16 member states.
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According to Ambassador Kombo, Tanzania is hosting the meeting in its capacity as the current Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, an important regional role held by President Samia Suluhu Hassan since August 2024.
The chairmanship is scheduled to conclude in August 2025 during the upcoming SADC Summit in Madagascar.
Highlighting Tanzania’s achievements under President Samia’s leadership, Ambassador Kombo said the country has played a leading role in promoting political cooperation within the region, particularly through its stewardship of the SADC Election Observation Mission (SEOM).
He said between October and November 2024, Tanzania led SEOM teams in Mozambique, Botswana, Mauritius and Namibia, supporting democratic processes and regional stability.
Moreover, Tanzania coordinated five high-level meetings of heads of state and government between November 2024 and March 2025, during which key defence and security matters were addressed.
Ambassador Kombo also noted that in February 2025, Tanzania hosted and chaired the Third Meeting of Senior Officials of the SADC Organ on Politics and Diplomacy (ISPDC) in Dar es Salaam.
Among the issues discussed were pro- posals to honour the found- ing leaders of the regional bloc and to publish significant historical documents in Kiswahili.
On the security front, the ambassador said Tanzania has actively contributed to peacekeeping efforts, including the deployment of troops and military equipment to the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC), in a bid to support regional peace and stability.
