Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that on 04 December 2024, the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) informed me that Level 1 sanctions had been imposed against Mauritius for non-payment of the sum of USD 11,056,083, which is equivalent to Rs508,667,161. Now, these sanctions entailed the suspension of Mauritius’ right to speak and to receive documentation for all SADC meetings, including senior officials, ministerial, and Heads of States and government levels. I further wish to inform the House that although Cabinet under the previous government was informed on two occasions, Madam Speaker, in March 2024 and August 2024, that Level 1 sanctions will be imposed on Mauritius if these payments are not made, and despite the fact that provisions had been made in the national budget for Financial Year 2024-2025 to the tune of Rs640 m., no payment was made by the previous government. Madam Speaker, I have so far, unfortunately, received no plausible explanations as to why payment of the overdue contributions was not made by the previous government. I also wish to recall that I assumed duty as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade on 22 November 2024 and could not even participate in the SADC Council of Ministers meeting held virtually on 09 December 2024 due to sanctions imposed on Mauritius. Madam Speaker, with regard to part (b) of the question, I wish to inform the House that as of 29 January 2025, the total amount payable by Mauritius for both the SADC Mission in Mozambique and the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) stood at USD 18,259,439. This amount, Madam Speaker, includes –

36 1. a sum of USD 2,795,485 for the SADC Mission in Mozambique for the period between July 2023 and July 2024; 2. a sum of USD 8,260,589 for the first mandate of the SADC Mission in DRC between December 2023 and December 2024, and 3. the sum of USD 7,203,365 for the extended mandate of SADC Mission in DRC, that is, for the period December 2024 to December 2025. With regard to section (c) of the question, Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that on 30 January 2025, my Ministry transferred the budgeted sum of USD 11,056,083 to the SADC Secretariat in order to honour our financial commitment to SADC. I also wrote a letter to the Executive Secretary of the SADC Secretariat informing him of the payment and calling for an immediate lifting of the sanctions. The SADC Secretariat has acknowledged receipt of the said amount and informed that the sanctions have been lifted. It will be noted that a sum of USD 7,203,365 for the extended mandate of the SADC Mission in DRC for the period December 2024 to December 2025 remains outstanding, and this amount is due on 01 April 2025. Madam Speaker, I also wish to add that while the situation in Mozambique has stabilised and the SADC Mission in Mozambique has been dismantled, the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains volatile. The SADC Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government which was held on 31 January 2025 in Harare, the Republic of Zimbabwe, where Mauritius could not once again participate, took note with concern of the recent attacks by the M23 armed group and Rwanda Defence Force on the government forces of DRC, the SADC Mission in the DRC, and the civilian population in various areas of North Kivu. The summit expressed concerns that the recent attacks continued to worsen the security and humanitarian situation in the DRC. Given the continued instability in the region, it is unlikely that the situation in the DRC will stabilise in the short term. As such, it may not be sustainable for Mauritius to maintain financial contributions to these peace-making missions. In this context, Madam Speaker, Mauritius will engage with the SADC leadership, including the SADC Executive Secretary and the President of Zimbabwe, current SADC Chairperson, on the margins of the upcoming African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, where a delegation that will be led by the hon. Prime Minister will attend. These discussions will

37 highlight and reaffirm Mauritius’s unwavering commitment to regional solidarity and security and explore the possibility of securing a waiver for the remaining balance pertaining to the extended mandate of the SADC mission in the DRC. Mauritius will also propose that future ad hoc contributions be made voluntary and urge SADC to explore alternative funding mechanisms such as the African Union Peace Fund to ease the financial burden of Small Island States like Mauritius. Madam Speaker, I wish to highlight that the payment of the contribution to the SADC peacekeeping missions was dealt with in a complacent and irresponsible manner by the previous Government. As soon as the new Government was apprised of the situation, a decision was taken to effect the payment as an utmost urgency to restore the credibility and prestige of Mauritius. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister! Hon. First Member for Port Louis North and Montagne Longue! CONSTITUENCY NO. 4 – WATER SUPPLY ISSUES – REMEDIAL MEASURES