MAPUTO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi and his Botswana counterpart Mokgweetsi Masisi on Monday officially launched the Southern African Development Community's (SADC's) Alert Force Mission to combat terrorism in Mozambique's northern province of Cabo Delgado.
The three-month mission's personnel include military experts and components from South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Tanzania, and Lesotho, and the initial cost of the operation stays at 12 million U.S. dollars, according to the data issued by a local NGO Sala da Paz.
Nyusi appealed for coordination and respect for human life at the ceremony. "The forces have already guaranteed that they will work in harmony," Nyusi said. "There is no place for lack of coordination."
"The relevance of the SADC Force on Alert Status is further increased by the fact that it is the first mission properly planned and executed by our regional organization," said Masisi, who is also the acting Chairperson of the SADC organ on politics, defence and security cooperation.
The gas-rich Cabo Delgado province has been plagued by terrorism since 2017, leading to the death of thousands and displacement of some 800,000 people. Enditem
