The SA National Defence Force (SANDF), stretched to almost the limit, will be late in getting to its latest battlefield, the Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique where Islamic insurgents have held sway for three years.
SA is leading the Southern African Development Community’s (Sadc) military intervention in Mozambique with only an advance team already in position.
Botswana has begun deploying its 1,000 troops and Rwanda’s soldiers, though not strictly part of the Sadc mission, have been in action since July 9 with initial successes in overrunning some insurgent positions.
SA’s slow response is a sign of how defence budget cuts have affected the defence force. The air force has only two serviceable Hercules C130 transport aircraft. These have moved soldiers and equipment within SA and also 2,500km away to Pemba in Cabo Delgado. It meant aircrews often make nine flights in a day. Armoured vehicles will be moved by road.
SA cannot renege on its commitment in Mozambique because the threat of the extremist insurgency spilling across its borders is no longer vague — it’s a reality. Mozambique has not been able to stop it since the outbreak in 2017.
The SANDF now has to scramble its forces — propping up the police to quell internal violence while also deploying about 1,500 troops in Mozambique.
But this new mission comes after budget cuts earlier this year of more than R15bn, which led defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to complain that it had become almost impossible to keep prime mission equipment serviceable.
The SANDF is also committed to the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as providing 2,800 troops to patrol SA’s borders.
Details of the Mozambique mission remain sketchy too.
The only available description of the mission is an assessment compiled by Botswana in April, and no further details have since been released.
In the Botswana assessment, the situation in Cabo Delgado is described as "relatively calm but unpredictable due to the threat posed by terrorist activities".
The insurgents, known as Al Shabaab or Al Sunnah, have attacked the local population and government installations. Since 2017 the group has killed at least 790 civilians in about 510 attacks. Some areas are deserted and about 800,000 people displaced.
One of the main guerrilla targets has been the Afungi liquefied natural gas (LNG) site, owned and operated by Total. The Afungi project is deserted, following the withdrawal of workers after an attack on nearby Palma in March. The Mozambican armed forces have been unable to neutralise the insurgents.
The Sadc brigade will consist of 3,000 troops, mainly from Botswana and SA, with smaller contingents from Zimbabwe and Angola. According to the initial assessment, the mission requires special forces, mechanised infantry, and naval assets.
Portugal, the US, the UK and the EU have been training the Mozambican forces.
SA’s reputation as Southern Africa’s leading nation is now on the block, and it could not have been tested at a worse time in the midst of the Covid pandemic.
Cash-strapped, with armoured vehicles 30 years old, and a limping air force and navy, the SANDF has to muster troops with limited operational experience to act in an extreme counter-insurgency operation.
The force will initially deploy for three months. President Cyril Ramaphosa notified parliament last week that the deployment will cost almost R1bn with participating countries and Sadc footing the bill.
Together with the R615m budgeted for current internal interventions, the operational budget for the SANDF is being stretched beyond its limits. Only R3.597bn has been budgeted for operations in 2021, which include border and peacekeeping commitments.
Finance minister Tito Mboweni provided an additional R700m for internal assistance to the police, but the Mozambican operation, even if it lasts only three months, will be costly.
While Mapisa-Nqakula was last week still trying to put the brakes on the Mozambique deployment because of the army’s internal commitments, Botswana had begun deploying its force.
In contrast to SA’s army, Botswana’s army is modern and well equipped. President Mokgweetsi Masisi was in full uniform as its commander-in-chief when he saw off the troops. The Botswana Defence Force will also provide the second-in-command of the mission with SA’s Maj-Gen Xolani Mankayi the force commander.
Rwandan soldiers have been in action around the strategic crossroads town of Awasse in the Mocímboa da Praia district, reportedly overrunning insurgent positions.
Col Ronald Rwivanga, a spokesperson for the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), told the FM the operation with the Mozambican forces killed about 30 insurgents in engagements at Awasse.
What has become clear is that the RDF will drive the offensive part of the operation, whether the Sadc mission commanders agree or not. This might present a difficult operational situation if strikes are not carefully co-ordinated.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.