Gaborone (Botswana) 13 September 2019 (SPS)- South African Development Community (SADC) Executive Secretariat, Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, reaffirmed in a letter she addressed on Thursday to the Saharawi Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Salem Uld Salek, SADC’s commitment to Saharawi people’s right to “self-determination and freedom”.
While confirming her reception of Saharawi Permanent Representative, Mr. Malainin Mohamed, credentials last September 6th, Dr. Stergomena Tax, re-affirmed SADC “commitment to stand in solidarity with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic to ensure its right to freedom and self-determination and self-determination”.
SADC Executive Secretary further considered that “the presentation of credentials and opening of the Saharawi Embassy in Botswana is a welcome move, and will contribute to the enhancement of our cordial relations.”
SADC is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana. Its goal is to further socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among 16 southern African countries.
The members of the organization are: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The different countries of the organization have cordial relations with the Saharawi Republic, and in March 2019 the Heads of States and Governments of SADC organized the first Conference of solidarity with the Saharawi Republic, adopting a very important Declaration, stressing solidarity and support on various levels.
In August 2019, SADC’s 39th Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, adopted a final communiqué renewing SADC support and solidarity with the Saharawi legitimate struggle for freedom.
090/500/60 (SPS)