MWE Correspondent
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) concluded its 45th Ordinary Summit in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on August 17, 2025, with leaders pledging renewed commitment to deepen regional cooperation through industrialisation, agricultural transformation, and energy transition.
The summit, held under the theme “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC,” brought together heads of state and government who stressed the importance of unity in addressing economic and security challenges facing southern Africa.
Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina assumed the chairmanship of SADC, taking over from Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa. In his acceptance remarks, Rajoelina emphasised the need for collective action, describing regional integration as a crucial pathway to sustainable development.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as incoming chairperson and will host the next summit in 2026. Meanwhile, the leadership of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation shifted to Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera, who will later pass the role to King Mswati III of Eswatini. Elias Magosi was reappointed as SADC Executive Secretary, extending his mandate until 2029.
Agriculture dominated the discussions, with leaders reaffirming its central role in the region’s economies. The sector contributes nearly a third of SADC’s overall GDP and sustains more than 60 percent of its people. Yet the challenge remains stark: almost 60 million people across the region faced food insecurity in 2024, underscoring the urgency of transformation.
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Leaders agreed on the need to scale up investments in climate-smart farming, strengthen value chains, and expand regional trade in agricultural products. They also committed to advancing the energy transition by exploring renewable solutions that could reduce dependence on fossil fuels and support industrial growth.
Beyond economic matters, the summit also addressed ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises. Leaders reaffirmed their support for mediation efforts in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in coordination with the African Union and the East African Community.
The bloc further expressed solidarity with the people of Western Sahara in their struggle for self-determination and urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to end civilian suffering. On health and safety, the leaders pledged stronger collaboration to fight cross-border outbreaks such as cholera and animal diseases including foot-and-mouth.
As the summit closed, President Ramaphosa commended Madagascar for successfully hosting the high-level gathering—its first time in two decades. He praised the nation’s “tireless planning and hospitality” which ensured a smooth and productive event.
