Antananarivo, Madagascar – The 45th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) concluded in Antananarivo, with Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina assuming the rotating presidency for the next 12 months.
The summit’s packed agenda centered on regional integration, economic resilience, and asserting the bloc’s sovereignty in a changing global landscape, a challenging yet successful test for Madagascar’s leadership.
Key outcomes and priorities
The summit, held under the theme “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC,” saw the signing of several protocols aimed at accelerating the region’s development. A key objective is to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to SADC’s GDP from 11 percent to an ambitious 30 percent within five years.
Central to these efforts is the acceleration of the North-South Economic Corridor project, a major initiative to enhance trade routes from Durban, South Africa, to Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This project is projected to create up to 1.6 million jobs, though specific timelines and investment figures have yet to be released.
The discussions also highlighted a growing emphasis on self-reliance, with SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi noting the need to “rely more on our own resources than on external support.” This sentiment was amplified by new tariffs imposed by the United States under the Donald Trump administration, which have prompted SADC members to strengthen intra-regional trade and reduce external dependencies.
Addressing geopolitical challenges
Beyond economic matters, the summit tackled pressing geopolitical issues. The ongoing conflict in the eastern DRC was a significant point of discussion. While the DRC’s President, Felix Tshisekedi, did not attend, President Rajoelina advocated for a position of “active neutrality,” focusing on humanitarian and security cooperation.
Another major topic was the SADC’s relationship with the United States. The summit was preceded by the first-ever SADC-USA Senior Officials Dialogue Forum, a historic event held on August 13th in Antananarivo. This forum provided a platform to discuss a more responsive and mutually beneficial partnership in light of shifting U.S. policy, including recent tariffs that have impacted SADC economies.
Madagascar’s leadership praised
President Rajoelina’s leadership and vision for the region were lauded by his peers. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed confidence that under Rajoelina’s chairmanship, SADC would “continue to progress towards regional integration, economic resilience, and sustainable development.”
The summit also gave special attention to the unique needs of SADC’s island nations—Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles—which have often been overlooked in regional priorities. Malagasy Foreign Minister Rafaravatitafika Rasata stressed that by combining the maritime, economic, and cultural potential of the islands with the agricultural and industrial power of the continental states, the region can build a truly autonomous and competitive SADC.
AC/fss/abj/APA