Southern African Development Comnnmity PREAMBLE We, the Heads of State or Government of: The Republic of Angola The Republic of Botswana The Democratic Republic of Congo The Kingdom of Lesotho The Republic of Malawi The Republic of Mauritius The Republic of Mozambique The Republic of Namibia The Republic of Seychelles The Republic of South Africa The Kingdom of Swaziland The United Republic of Tanzania The Republic of Zambia The Republic of Zimbabwe Concerned with national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the social and economic development and with the stability and security of all SADC Member States Conscious that harmonious cooperation in the African continent and in the region in particular, based on the principles that guide the African Union can only be achieved in conditions of peace and in a climate of political, social and economic stability Considering that threats and acts of terrorism in the region, the African continent and the world have prompted the international community to strengthen the mechanisms for preventing and combating all forms of terrorism Considering further that terrorism constitutes an impediment to the full enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms of humankind; Conscious of the imperative need to protect human rights and individual liberties in conformity with the principles enshrined in international legal instruments, in particular the right to life Taking into account Resolutions 55/158 of UN General Assembly and 1269 (1999) and 1373 (2001) of the UN Security Council that qualify acts of terrorism as a threat to international peace and security and which urge Member States to strengthen cooperation between the UN and Regional Organisations for the prevention of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations Declaration on Terrorism 1