KEETMANSHOOP – Defence minister Frans Kapofi has clarified Namibia’s role in the DRC conflict. 

He was responding to questions from Popular Democratic Movement parliamentarian Elma Dienda. 

Kapofi said Namibia’s support for a fellow SADC member state does not necessarily have to be militarily.

He told Dienda that from his understanding of her questions, she seemed to suggest that it would be good for Namibia to show support through the deployment of troops to the DRC. 

“Because we have not, or are not, sending troops to the DRC, it does not mean we have removed ourselves from fulfilling our obligation of contributing to the achievement of peace in the SADC region, and as such do not see how our already existing good fraternal relations will be jeopardised,” he said.

“An injury to one of us is an injury to all of us; today it is the Democratic Republic of Congo under siege, tomorrow it could be us, and we too will rely on support from other states,” the minister added.

He gave an assurance that the country will remain steadfast in playing its part in ensuring that peace is restored in eastern DRC and as a result, has been and continues to be involved in United Nations’ peacekeeping missions in conflict-ridden countries around the world. “With regard to our support for the SADC mission in the DRC, we have pledged to provide financial and political support, which we have done without fail, despite the meagre resources at our disposal,” he added.

Kapofi also said experience dictated that people go to war as the last resort when their political expectations are not met. “However, as you may be aware, war is a very destructive and expensive undertaking that should be avoided by all means; hence, any opportunity for peace that avails itself must be used,” he advised. 

-sklukowsk@nepc.com.na