[R-G] Bush: South African bloc could get US military aid

[Anthony Fenton]

Bush: South African bloc could get US military aid

3 days ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush decreed Friday that the  
15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc  
could receive US military aid for peacekeeping efforts in Africa.

Bush's decision came in a memorandum for US Secretary of State  
Condoleezza Rice, which was released by the White House just four days  
before president-elect Barack Obama takes office.

The move makes it possible for the bloc "to receive defense articles  
and defense services from the United States," a US administration  
official said on condition of anonymity.

"Our provision of defense equipment and services to the SADC will  
allow the SADC to engage more comprehensively in African peacekeeping  
efforts," the official said.

The SADC groups Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo,  
Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,  
Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Its mission is to safeguard peace and security and promote economic  
development while battling poverty and deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS  
and forging common regional approaches to global issues.