The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) deployment has left for Mozambique early today. The Two hundred and ninety-six (296) men troops are Botswana’s contribution to a peace keeping mission at Mozambique.
Sending off the troops, the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, His Excellency the President Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi instructed the force to represent Botswana well, and uphold her good reputation.
“As your Commander in Chief, I am alive to the fact that you will be facing a deceptive enemy which is likely to use asymmetric warfare, unconventional and underhand warfare tactics against yourselves and the population you will be protecting. As professionals, you stand for much more than they do and must avoid emulating them and sinking to their level. I therefore demand nothing less from you to observe the Laws of Armed Conflict (LOAC) as prescribed internationally in your profession of arms, as well as the Status of Force Agreement (SOFA) which establishes the framework under which SAMIM personnel will operate in the Republic of Mozambique. Your main focus as the BDF in this deployment will be prescribed by your respective commanders in the mission. I have full confidence that you will execute your task equitably and will do nothing that will taint the good image of the defence force.” President Masisi commanded.
The President said that mentioning the former deployments by Botswana on similar peacekeeping missions. He mentioned past peacekeeping missions is Somalia, Rwanda, Lesotho, and Mozambique itself.
During the said missions, President Masisi reiterates how the BDF carried out their duty with all due diligence and merit. “Throughout these deployments the BDF received very positive appraisal for their professional conduct in the execution of the military job and also as true ambassadors of Botswana’s historical and enduring National Values of being a rule-based society and in particular that of BOTHO as a Force multiplier. That remains the historical legacy of your predecessors and the shoes you must now fill.” said Masisi.
BDF forms part of the SADC Standby Force deployed to provide regional support to the Republic of Mozambique to combat the looming threat of terrorism and acts of violent extremism in the Cabo Delgado Region in the northern part of that country, as an element of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).
