SADC vows “measures” after investigating burning of bodies by its forces in Mozambique

12 Jan. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has described as “disturbing” the video in which alleged soldiers from its regional force deployed in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, are seen burning corpses and has promised to take “measures” once the investigations into those events.

The President of Namibia, Hage Geingob, who heads the security body deployed by SADC in Cabo Delgado to combat jihadist violence, has indicated that they have “taken note” of what happened and that the SADC mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) has The relevant investigations have already started.

“I wish to categorically underline that SADC does not condone the acts reflected in the video and, once the investigations are completed, SADC will take appropriate measures in accordance with international law in armed conflict,” Geingob stressed in a statement released via Twitter.

Despite the images, widely disseminated on social networks, Geingob wanted to value the “responsible and professional” way in which the SAMIM troops have performed throughout the conflict, stressing that they are “committed” to the fight against terrorism and violence in Cabo Delgado.

In recent days, a video has been circulating on social networks in which several South African soldiers, belonging to the forces deployed by SADC, can be seen throwing a corpse onto a pile of burning rubble. For these events, on Tuesday South Africa condemned what happened and announced an investigation.

For its part, the NGO Amnesty International (AI) has assured that the images are a “horrible” sample of what is happening in this “forgotten war” that is taking place in this province located in the north of Mozambique.

“The burning of corpses by soldiers is deplorable and likely a violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits the mutilation of corpses and requires that the dead be treated respectfully,” said Tigere Chagutah, one of AI’s officials for the east. and southern Africa.

Chagutah has asked SAMIM to initiate a “quick, exhaustive and independent” investigation into the video images and the corresponding measures against those who have any type of responsibility for what happened.

“Security in Cabo Delgado should not be imposed at the cost of violations against Human Rights,” Chagutah emphasized.

Cabo Delgado –a region rich in raw materials and important gas deposits– has been the scene since October 2017 of attacks carried out by Islamist militants known as Al Shabaab, unrelated to the group of the same name that operates in Somalia and maintains ties with Al Qaeda . Since mid-2019, they have mostly been claimed by the Islamic State in Central Africa (ISCA), which has intensified its actions since March 2020.