VOA
Defense chiefs drawn from 32 African nations, excluding Zimbabwe, are attending a two-day U.S Africa Command conference in Gaborone, Botswana, focusing on the security situation on the continent.
Zimbabwe was not invited to the conference but a junior officer, Charles Shumba who is attached to the countryโs embassy in the country, is attending the meeting at the invitation of the host nation.
A senior U.S military official attending the conference says Botswana included Zimbabwe in the list of participants but Washington objected.
U.S-Africa Command (AFRICOM) director of intelligence, Rose Keravouri, told VOA, it was the decision of the โcivilian leadershipโ to exclude Zimbabwe.
U.S Africa Command conference in Botswana
โWe take instructions from our civilian leadership. Because of some policies in Zimbabwe, the Security Council said they will not be invited to the conference,โ Keravouri said.
However, she said the move does not mean Zimbabwe is being isolated.
โ(But) thatโs not to say we cannot learn lessons from Zimbabwe. I want to push back on the statement that we are isolating Zimbabwe. That is not the intent. The intent is we come in when we are asked. If any African partner wants support or wants us to help in a certain region that is what we help with.โ
U.S Africa Command conference in Botswana
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a meeting with Russian leader, Vladimir Putin earlier this month, said his country was being isolated by the U.S. He said America was aiding neighbors Malawi and Zambia with security and military support.
The statement has angered Zambian President, Hichilema Hakaindeโs administration, which has reported the issue to regional bloc, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as well as the African Union (AU).
USA imposed targeted sanctions on Mnangagwa and his inner circle over alleged corruption, human rights violations and election rigging. The southern African nation has strong relations with Russia backdating to the countryโs 1960s liberation war. Its support for Russiaโs invasion of Ukraine has also angered the West.
Meanwhile, while officially opening the conference, Botswana President, Mokgweetsi Masisi expressed concern over Africaโs spate of military coups. He said undemocratic removal of leadership presents a challenge for the continentโs security chiefs.
โIt is imperative that we come together as one cohesive force to achieve Africaโs noble vision of silencing the guns by 2030 and ensure peace and stability across the continent,โ he said.
โFurthermore, there is an urgent need to face a growing disquiet about the disrespect of the democratic ideal of constitutionally elected governments on the African continent by the military,โ Masisi added.
