GABORONE, Sept 8 (AFP) - The AIDS pandemic in Africa could provoke civil wars and wars between states, a Botswanan army general warned Africa's first military conference on the pandemic on Monday.
Major General Bakwena Oitsile told the meeting, attended by representatives of military forces in sub-Saharan countries, that the high infection rate in the region posed a threat to security as well as grave health concerns.
"This could be a source for intra- and inter-state conflict," he said.
"If the security forces become weaker due to ill health, the countries' constitutions could easily be challenged. The political structures that ensure democratic governance could be threatened."
The four-day conference is focusing on how to improve research into HIV and AIDS, which are responsible up to 60 percent of the deaths among military personnel in the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Oitsile added: "The HIV/AIDS pandemic has gone beyond the purview of the health sector. It requires mobilisation of resources and human capacity in all sectors including the military.
US ambassador to Botswana Joseph Huggins pledged that his country would support African defence forces in their fight against AIDS.
"I applaud each of you; your work is important to all of the peoples of the world and absolutely critical to your countries. Together, we will not fail in the struggle against this killer disease," Huggins said.
"HIV/AIDS is a global tragedy; but for Africa, the degree of pain and human suffering from the disease can be multiplied many times over.
"Moreover, the problem becomes more ominous in the realisation that many militaries in Africa experience readiness problems due to high rates of HIV/AIDS among their personnel," Huggins added.
"The leaders of these countries recognise the importance of a viable military force in maintaining peace and stability among their citizenry and with neighbouring nations," he said.
Africa is the continent the worst affected by AIDS, with close to 30 million people infected south of the Sahara and an estimated three million deaths caused by AIDS in 2002.
Its overall adult prevalence rate is nine percent, but in southern Africa that rate is 20 percent.
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