Zambia, Angola reaffirms need to enhance defence cooperation

The Zambian and Angolan governments have reaffirmed the need to enhance defense cooperation as part of efforts to promote peace and effectively fight transnational crimes along the two countries' borders, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Friday. The two neighboring countries believe that they should continue promoting defense cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of each country, according to Daily Mail. Geoffrey Mwamba, the Zambian Minister of Defense said his government was concerned about the rising cases of transnational crimes such as drug trafficking and human trafficking, illegal migration, money laundering, smuggling and stock thefts along the border. The Zambian minister, who was speaking when he met his Angolan counterpart Candido Pereir dos Santos van Dunem, said transnational crimes will only be reduced if the two countries worked together through enhanced defense cooperation. "I wish to implore our two countries to strive to keep alive cooperation between our defense forces," he was quoted as saying by the paper. According to him, the two countries should also cooperate in military training and increase interaction between the two defense forces. On his part, the Angolan defense minister thanked the Zambian government for playing a pivotal role in that country's fight for independence, adding that his government had continued to receive support from Zambia, especially in the area of defense. He also called for increased economic and social stability between the two countries. The two countries are expected to sign a technical and cooperation protocol.