The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) is set to go on a peace keeping mission at Mozambique in the near future, President Masisi has indicated.
Speaking yesterday while briefing the media, His Excellency the President Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi revealed that BDF will be deployed to go help the government of Mozambique against terrorists.
“Botswana soldiers will be deployed to assist and bring peace in Mozambique ” he said. After months of meetings, President Masisi says that Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states have finally resolved to assist Mozambique militarily.
“We unanimously agreed as SADC member states to go and help Mozambique on issues of defence, to go set the record straight and to bring peace and stability, we will be doing so with request and permission of Mozambique, we are not interfering.” President Masisi proclaimed.
This comes after the reports that Mozambique will not accept military assistance from SADC member states or any other entity. According to the reports, the Islamic terrorists which have been bothering Mozambique threatened to strike harder if Mozambique accept assistance from anyone. The terrorists further threatened to attack any country which dares to help Mozambique.
“Dialogue is the best form of ending a fight, but in this issue regarding Mozambique, the method has failed as we are facing ruthless terrorists” Charged Masisi.
President Masisi says the Mozambique operation requires people who are trained in terms of keeping order. He went on to praise Botswana Defence y(BDF) as one of the well trained forces in the region.
While the date for the deployment has not been revealed yet, it has been revealed in the near past that the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) is not really ready for war. The lack of readiness was due to lack of funds and resources. Due to Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) economic downturn, the government of Botswana had to reduce some Ministries and departments budget. With the need for BDF to be deployed, we are still to see how the government is going to finance BDF, especially that the government has been borrowing a lot
