South Africa is to deploy at least 2 900 members of the South African National Defence Force to assist in the fight against illegal armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the deployment in line with fulfilling South Africa’s international obligation towards the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission to support the DRC.

The deployment comes as the DRC battles Tutsi-led M23 rebels whose attacks and advances in recent days, is threatening the North Kivu provincial capital, Goma.

According to media reports, decades of conflicts in eastern Congo between myriad rival armed groups over land and resources have killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced more than seven million.

The SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) was deployed on 15 December 2023 to support the government of the DRC to restore peace and security in the eastern DRC, which has witnessed an increase in conflicts and instability caused by the
resurgence of armed groups.

‘The employment will cover the period from 15 December 2023 to 15 December 2024 and it was authorised in accordance with the provisions of section 201(2) (c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

‘The budgeted expenditure to be incurred for the employment amounts to just over R2 billion. This expenditure will not impact provisions for the defence force’s regular maintenance and emergency repairs,’ the Presidency said in a statement on Monday.

The obligation to contribute troops to the SADC mission in the DRC is borne by all SADC Member States. SADC is a 16-member group of countries, including the Congo.

The deployment of the SAMIDRC was approved by the Extraordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Windhoek, Republic of Namibia, on 08 May 2023 as a regional response to address the unstable and deteriorating security situation prevailing in the eastern DRC.

As part of the SAMIDRC, a SADC regional force from the Republics of Malawi, South Afric
a and the United Republic of Tanzania and elements of the DRC Armed Forces are working with the Congolese Army, the Forces Armees de la Republic Democratique du Congo (FARDC), in fighting armed groups operating in the eastern DRC.

In a statement in January, SADC said the presence of the SAMIDRC demonstrates the commitment of SADC member states to supporting the DRC in its efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability and, ultimately, create an enabling environment for sustainable development and prosperity.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Tobacco consumption is high in Tunisia among men, in particular. Around half of men are smokers (49.8% against 49.4% in 2018), a 2023 cluster-sampling survey with multiple indicators titled the “Situation of Mothers and Children in Tunisia” showed.

More than the half (53.2%) smoked over 20 cigarettes in the 24 hours before the survey, findings outlined Monday also showed.

There are variations between urban areas (52.3%) and the rural environment (44.8%). This rate diminishes according to the level of education and economic well being.

It drops from 50.4% for uneducated men to 44.4% for men with a university degree. The rate is 48.3% for men in rich households and 46.2% for those from poorer households.

Tobacco consumption varies according to the age, standing at 16.5% for the 15-19 age bracket (22.4% in 2018), 26.6% for the 18-19 age group (32.8% in 2018) and 49.9% for youth aged 20 to 24 (44% in 2018). The highest rate was reported in the 35-39 age bracket (47.5% in 2018).

Geographic breakdown demonstra
tes the highest rate was reported in the Greater Tunis (56.2%), while the southeast recorded the lowest smoking rate (40.3%).

Smoking is one of a preventable cause of illness and death in the world, the survey revealed.

According to the survey, 49.8% of men never smoked or used a Tobacco product against 97.4% of women.

This proportion of non-smokers is higher in the 40-44 age bracket (40%). 11.2% of boys smoked a whole cigarette before turning 15.

Smoking prevalence among women is low, standing at 1.9% (1.7% in 2018). It is 2.8% in urban areas against 0% in the rural environment. Cigarette smoking among 15 to 19-year-old girls is estimated at 0.8%

Economic wellbeing and the level of education are likewise determining factors with 4.1% of women from the richest households against 0.3% for the poorest.

Survey findings show 0.9% of uneducated women are smoking, while 2.5% of women who pursued secondary school studies and 1.8% of those who went to university took up smoking.

The survey was conducted by the
National Institute of Statistics,

in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Planning and with the technical and financial support of the UNICEF and the funding of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the development bank of Germany KfW.

Respondents are 11,000 households across the country, including 7,326 in urban areas and 3,674 in the rural environment with a response rate of 90%.

Some 138 indicators on the situation of mothers and children were updated, including 34 in relation to SDGs.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse