The Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government has formally accepted Madagascar’s decision to relinquish its role as Chair of the regional bloc, following recent political developments in that country that undermined its ability to effectively discharge the duties of the position.
The high-level virtual summit, held on Friday, brought together regional leaders to deliberate on the state of the Southern African Development Community and to ensure the continuity of leadership and stability within the organisation. President Emmerson Mnangagwa led Zimbabwe’s delegation to the extraordinary meeting, which focused on maintaining unity, progress, and institutional strength amid mounting regional and global challenges.
Interim SADC Chairperson and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for decisive and forward-thinking leadership, reminding member states that the strength of SADC has always rested on solidarity, unity, and collective resolve.
“From its inception, SADC has stood as a beacon of solidarity — a community founded on unity, peace, mutual benefit, and sovereign equality,” President Ramaphosa said. “As these very values are being tested by the convergence of challenges, we are called upon to act with both urgency and foresight to stabilise the present while safeguarding the future. The future of this organisation lies in our ability to deploy our institutional strength to find sustainable solutions to the challenges we face.”
Ramaphosa emphasised that while the challenges confronting the region were profound, they were not insurmountable. He urged leaders to remain steadfast and courageous in defending the achievements that SADC has made over decades.
“Our collective sense of regional solidarity is our strongest currency at this time,” he said. “Solidarity demands the courage to act decisively in defence of our regional gains. The people of our region continue to look to us for leadership that delivers the vision of a peaceful, inclusive, and industrialised region by 2050.”
SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi assured the summit that Madagascar’s decision to step down would not disrupt the continuity of the bloc’s leadership or derail its development agenda. He said the extraordinary summit was convened to elect a new Chair to serve for the remainder of Madagascar’s term, which runs until August 2026.
SADC Leaders Endorse Madagascar’s Step-Down, Pledge Unity and Stability Amid Regional Challenges
“This process will ensure that the SADC Troika leadership remains complete in line with our founding treaty,” Magosi said. “It guarantees that our organisation continues to function seamlessly while ensuring uninterrupted progress toward regional integration, economic development, and peace and security.”
Magosi stressed that the leadership change would not alter the regional bloc’s thematic focus or policy direction. He reaffirmed SADC’s commitment to the theme adopted during the 45th SADC Summit held in August 2025 in Antananarivo, Madagascar: “Promoting Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC.”
“This theme remains central to our regional agenda,” he explained. “It reaffirms our collective commitment to fostering industrial growth, agricultural modernisation, and an adaptive energy transition as pillars of a resilient and integrated SADC region.”
Following the summit, President Mnangagwa expressed optimism about the outcomes of the deliberations, noting that the discussions reinforced regional unity and shared purpose in addressing ongoing socio-economic and political challenges.
“It was a Southern African Development Community meeting of four Heads of State focused on consolidating our regional efforts to confront the challenges facing our community,” President Mnangagwa told journalists. “I am pleased that we are all in agreement on how to move forward in tackling these issues collectively.”
A communique released by the SADC Secretariat confirmed that the bloc will continue implementing the Antananarivo Summit theme until August 2026. The statement underscored SADC’s long-term priorities of promoting industrialisation, boosting agricultural productivity, and ensuring a sustainable energy transition to bolster the region’s resilience and self-reliance.
Additionally, the communique announced that Zimbabwe, as the outgoing SADC Chair, will host selected SADC meetings during the interim period. This decision highlights Zimbabwe’s continued strategic role within the regional bloc and reflects the trust placed in Harare’s leadership to maintain the momentum of SADC’s ongoing programmes.
Observers note that Madagascar’s withdrawal from the chairmanship comes amid political turbulence following contested domestic political developments, which affected its ability to coordinate regional initiatives effectively. However, the swift and coordinated response by the SADC leadership demonstrates the bloc’s institutional maturity and ability to manage internal transitions without compromising its operational stability.
The Extraordinary Summit concluded with a strong reaffirmation of unity, mutual respect, and shared responsibility among Southern African Development Community member states. Leaders pledged to work collaboratively to advance regional integration, promote sustainable economic growth, and safeguard peace and democracy across Southern Africa.
As the region looks ahead to its Vision 2050 aspirations, Friday’s extraordinary session reaffirmed SADC’s enduring relevance and commitment to a collective future anchored in industrialisation, inclusivity, and resilience — principles that remain central to the bloc’s mission of transforming Southern Africa into a stable and prosperous community.
Source- ZBC
