Hosia Mviringi
Government of the Republic of Zambia has scoffed at widespread rumours of an agreement with the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) to use its territory for military operations in Southern Africa.
Speaking in a statement, the Zambian Defence Minister Ambrose Lwiji Lufumba emphasised that the office being created is the Office of Military Cooperation which will be based at the US Embassy in Lusaka.
It thus does not translate to an AFRICOM military base.
“Contrary to misinformation and disinformation that the United States of America is in the process of establishing USA Bases in Zambia through the USA Africa Command (AFRICOM), which is aimed at endangering lives of Zambians and threatening our national security, I would like to state that the office being established is the Office of Security Cooperation which will ne be based at the US Embassy in Lusaka,” said Lufumba.
The statement comes a few day after a May 26, 2022 announcement by the US Embassy in Lusaka broke the internet with all social media platforms going ablaze with widespread fears that probably the Kyiv scenario is about to unfold in Southern Africa due to the timing of the announcement.
The Ukraine situation which ignited the current ongoing war with Russia followed a determination by Kyiv to defiantly join NATO and host the erstwhile Russian nemesis military bases.
“We are pleased to announce that @USAfricaCommand will open an Office of Security Cooperation at the U.S Embassy in Zambia. Visiting AFFICOM Brigadier General Peter Bailey announced during a meeting with His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema,” said the US Embassy in Zambia in a tweet.
Southern Africa has for a long time resisted the moves by the US Army to establish military bases in the region, arguing that the region was relatively peaceful as no apparent terrorist threats existed to warrant permanent presence of foreign military bases.
Writing on it’s blog, the US Embassy in Zambia reiterated that the establishment of the Office will “enhance military to military cooperation in force management, modernisation, and professional military education for the Zambian security forces.”
The US Embassy announcement seemed to have touched a raw nerve amongst Zambia’s neighbours, who didn’t see this coming from a security perspective, and who justifiably would be concerned about the security implications of such moves should they materialise.
The statement by the Zambian Defence Minister will thus go a long way in calming the nerves of its neighbours, even though a solid assurance that no such bases will be opened should be demanded.
“Therefore the Ministry of Defence would like to take this opportunity to warn all perpetrators of such misinformation meant to tarnish our existing cordial relationship with our neighbours and strategic partners to desist from issuing alarming statements which hinge on security and territorial integrity of our nation,” said Lufumba.
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