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S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2003Celebrating 40 yearsof solidarityIt was a celebration ofthe rebirth and renewalof the African continent.By Nomonde Vuthela (an extract ofwhat was published in SA Soldier:July 2003, page 14)Photo: Sgt David NomtshongwanaUnited we stand, divided wefall! Viva Africa! The 40thanniversary of theOrganisation of African Unity(OAU), now known as theAfrican Union (AU), at theJohannesburg Stadium on 25 May 2003was a celebration of the rebirth andrenewal of the African continent.The AU represents an equal partnershipof the 53 African States orGovernments that make up the organisation.In order for Africans to face thefuture with renewed vigour in a worldthat is increasingly changing technologicallyand otherwise, PresidentThabo Mbeki announced: "We havetransformed the Organisation ofAfrican Unity into the African Union".Through the AU the President hassworn that the slaughter of oneAfrican by another will be stopped."We will do our best to end this senselesskilling," said President Mbeki. Hecontinued: "Tutsi and Hutu areAfrican, Hausa and Yoruba areAfrican."As Chairperson of the AU, PresidentMbeki also stated that the organisationMembers of the SANDF making us proud.would continue to assist war plaguedcountries, such as the Central AfricanRepublic and the Côte d' Ivoire toreturn to democracy. The Presidentalso touched on the Burundi PeaceAgreement and the Sudan, andapplauded the ongoing talks betweenthe Sudanese Government and theSudanese People's LiberationMovement.At President Mbeki's request amoment's silence was observed inremembrance of the two thousandpeople killed in the recent earthquakein Algeria. The Commander-in-Chiefof theSANDF then made mention of the factthat the SANDF would deploy troopsin Algeria in an endeavour to assist.The SANDF is second to none anddoes us so proud! Not only does theNational Defence Force protect ourborders and beyond, but it has alsosuccessfully adapted to the versatilerole of being a service provider and ashow-stopper.Members of the SANDF brought lifeto the stadium long before the publicpoured in. In the biting cold, so typicalof a "Jo'burg" winter morning,members took to song to fend off thechill. Carrying all 53 flags of the AUmember countries the NationalCeremonial Guard paraded indetailed precision around the field tothe rhythm of the bands of the SAArmy, the SA Air Force, the SA Navyand the SA Military Health Service,which maddened the crowd withexcitement.20• M A Y 2 0 1 1
Life in a Congo villageBy Capt Mohau Modise (an extractof what was published in SASoldier: October 2003, page 15)On the arrival of the commandgroup on 22 April 2003 Kinduwas a ghost town with a handfulof people. This was because many ofits inhabitants were living in thebushes nearby in fear of the rebelgroup, known as the Rally forCongolese Democracy (RCD) -GOMA. The RCD rebels are mostlychildren ranging in age from tenupwards, who have been supportedby the Rwandan Army during thefour years of war in an attempt tooverthrow former President LaurentKabila.After Kabila's assassination inJanuary 2001 his son Joseph took overand to date he is trying hard to pushstories from 2003Capt Mohau Modise, SO2 InfoOPS (MONUC III), at one of theschools during Project QUIPS.S A S O L D I E Rfor peace and an interim governmenthas been sworn in.The town is war-torn and itsbuildings are dilapidated.Unemployment is the order of theday due to a lack of good governance.Although mineral resourcesare abundant, the people see this as acurse rather than a blessing, becausethey believe that these resources, eggold and diamonds, lead to livesbeing lost, and suffering and torturebeing inflicted by the rebel groups, asthese have a vested interest in theseminerals.It is amazing that in the midst ofhunger and poverty the Congoleseare still very keen to utilise theirremaining resources. They are veryintelligent despite being disadvantagedby having to attend school inwar conditions.South Africa plays a role in the peace processBy Lt Col Annelize Rademeyer, SO1Public Liaison AMIB (an extract ofwhat was published in SA Soldier:October 2003, page 14)One could easily wonder whatSouth Africa's forces have to doin Burundi, close to the equator,far away from the southern tip ofAfrica. Our former President, MrNelson Mandela, played a leading rolein negotiations to establish fertileground for the peace process in thisrelatively small country in the GreatLakes region. Although Mr Mandelais not part of the process anymore,South Africa still plays a role in it.The SANDF started OperationFIBRE in Burundi in November 2000with the main objective of safeguardingpoliticians returning to the country.Following the Arusha Peace andReconciliation Agreement in August2000, the deployment of the SouthAfrican Protection and SupportDetachment (SAPSD), and furtherregional initiatives, the signing of twoceasefire agreements on 7 October and2 December 2002 took place. TheAfrican Mission was established inBurundi.The mission is to oversee the implementationand verification of the ceasefireagreements, and to assist in disarmament,demobilisation and reintegration(DDR) programmes.On 3 February 2003 South Africawas appointed by the African Union(AU) as Lead Nation to plan andimplement the African Union Missionin Burundi (AUMIB). Other countriescontributing soldiers are Mozambiqueand Ethiopia. Elements from thesecountries with the main force arealready deployed at the AMIB HQ.The Mission will be conducted infive phases, namely pre-deployment(planning and preparations), establishingthe mission (HQ deployed andtransition of SAPSD), (phased) deploymentof main force elements andpreparation of cantonment areas, disarmament,demobilisation and reintegration(DDR) and subsequent operationsthat include the possibility of beingrelieved by a UN mission.Negotiations are still taking placebetween the various role-players onhow exactly the DDR process shouldbe conducted. Currently there is onecantonment area, which is almost 30km north-east of Bujumbura (the capitalof Burundi) in the province ofBubanza. Other regions for the establishmentof cantonment areas areunder investigation.Current key posts are the AMIBForce Commander (Maj Gen S.Z.Binda - RSA), the AMIB DeputyForce Commander (Brig Gen GebratAyelle - Ethiopia), the AMIB Chief ofStaff (W. Very - RSA) and the RSANational Contingent Commander(Col N.J.K. Mabilu).M A Y 2 0 1 1 • s 21
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