Media Statement
17 July 2015
Minister Nkoana-Mashabane to chair the 17th Meeting of the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO)
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation will host the 17th meeting of the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation on 20-21 July 2015 in Pretoria.
South Africa is the current chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. Minister Nkoana-Mashabane, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) will chair the meeting of Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Public and State Security from all SADC Member States. The MCO is preceded by the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC) and Inter-State Politics and Diplomacy Committee (ISPDC) senior officials’ meetings from 16-18 July 2015.
Pertinent issues to be discussed are the political and security situation in the region, administrative arrangements for the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC), the SADC Observer Mission in Lesotho (SOMILES), the SADC Mediation structures and preparations for the hosting of Exercise AMANI AFRICA II, the field training exercise for the African Standby Force.
The SADC MCO convenes at least one statutory meeting annually, to review the implementation of its previous decisions and to consider the operationalization of its various sub-structures. It will also consider the reports of both the ISDSC and ISPDC, as well as the current political and security situation in the region. The MCO will report to the next SADC Summit, which will be held in Botswana in August 2015.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, 082 884 5976
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084
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