Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is set to review a report concerning the political and security situation in Madagascar. The announcement was made during a virtual Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government held on Wednesday, where President Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to regional leaders for attending the meeting, which aimed to evaluate the report from the Chairperson of the Organ regarding Madagascar’s situation.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa reminded attendees of a recent meeting that addressed pressing organizational issues. He highlighted September 2025 as a pivotal moment when Madagascar faced political challenges, resulting in the establishment of a transitional government. Consequently, an Extraordinary SADC Organ Troika Summit was convened on 16 October 2025 to analyze the situation.
During the summit, it was decided to promptly deploy a Technical Mission for a fact-finding mission to Madagascar. The findings from this mission are included in the report being considered at the current summit. President Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of accelerating the implementation of regional development objectives under SADC Vision 2050. This vision aims to create a region where people live peacefully and can achieve their economic potential.
President Ramaphosa reaffirmed SADC’s dedication to peace and stability through the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. This protocol focuses on promoting peace, security, democracy, and political stability, while also encouraging solidarity among the people in the region. He acknowledged the advancements made in consolidating democracy, promoting good governance, ensuring electoral integrity, and fostering a culture of human rights.
Despite these achievements, President Ramaphosa warned that political and security challenges continue to exist in certain areas. He expressed concern over the situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and extended solidarity with the government and people of Mozambique in their efforts to ensure stability and security in the Cabo Delgado province.
Reflecting on Madagascar’s political history, President Ramaphosa noted the systemic challenges faced by the country. He recalled SADC’s 2009 support for a democratic and peaceful future in Madagascar and acknowledged that while progress has been made, recent events indicate that additional efforts are needed to achieve sustainable peace. He concluded by emphasizing the collective responsibility to help the people of Madagascar attain lasting peace and development.