Non-South African SADC Navies and Maritime Security in the Post-Cold War Era

Abstract

This chapter analyses the state of non-South African (SA) Southern African Development Community (SADC) navies and related maritime security capabilities since the end of the Cold War and apartheid eras with special focus on Angola and Mozambique. It discusses the challenges and prospects facing these non-SA SADC navies in fulfilling their mandates. The chapter makes three conclusions. First, a holistic rather than a strictly security-based approach to maritime security is required. Second, the SADC member-states, especially coastal ones, need to assume larger roles and duties and ease the burden on South Africa alone for a truly regional and effective maritime security strategy to be seen to be in force. Lastly, SADC countries’ defence budgets should be proportionately expanded to meet the demands and costs of maintaining an effective navy capable of ensuring maritime security.