Southern African leaders have endorsed a Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Transitional Justice Framework aimed at helping member states prevent a relapse into violence and instability.
The decision was announced on Saturday during the SADC Troika Summit on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation held in Antananarivo ahead of the 45th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit.
SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi said the framework would support countries emerging from conflict by addressing governance challenges and promoting sustainable peace.
“It is a cornerstone for sustainable peace in our region and every member state falling in this category are urged to consider and implement its recommendations.”
The framework’s adoption comes amid heightened regional focus on transitional justice.
The summit spotlighted persistent insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where the withdrawal of SADC troops from the SAMIDRC mission marked a strategic shift towards diplomacy.
SADC and the East African Community have since merged the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes, forming a five-member Panel of Facilitators working alongside the African Union mediator to advance dialogue and reconciliation.
The region also commended Lesotho’s progress in constitutional reform, with the anticipated assent to the 10th Amendment seen as a milestone in democratic renewal.
The region is also battling an Islamist insurgency in northern Mozambique that has left thousands dead and millions displaced since October 2017.
Meanwhile, Mauritius and Tanzania’s successful piloting of the SADC Anti-Corruption Effort Index was hailed as a model for transparency and institutional integrity.
Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango cautioned that despite gains, the region continues to face threats including terrorism, illegal migration and the proliferation of illicit arms.
He called for sustainable funding to bolster the organ’s peace and security initiatives.
JN/APA