PRETORIA-The Southern African Development Community (SADC) held an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government on 7th November 2025, convening virtually to address pressing regional matters, including leadership changes, the aftermath of political unrest, and plans for ongoing cooperation across Southern Africa.
The summit was attended by leaders or representatives from across the region, including President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, and President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.
Other notable attendees included the Vice Presidents and senior officials from countries like Tanzania, Lesotho, Angola, Botswana,Eswatini,Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Madagascar, as well as Ministers of Foreign Affairs and regional integration.
One of the key decisions made during the summit was the appointment of South Africa as the interim Chair of SADC, following the resignation of Madagascar from the role due to political instability in the country.
According to the SADC Treaty, South Africa will lead the bloc until August 2026. The SADC Secretariat is tasked with identifying a new incoming Chairperson by 30th November 2025, in line with the principle of rotation.
The summit also took a moment to address recent regional tragedies. It extended its condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during protests in Madagascar and Tanzania in September and October 2025.
The unrest, which also led to significant damage to infrastructure, was a source of deep regret for the regional leaders.
At the same time, the summit congratulated several Heads of State who were elected in recent months, including President Arthur Peter Mutharika of Malawi, President Patrick Herminie of Seychelles, and President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania. Their successful elections were celebrated as a positive step for the region.
Looking ahead, SADC leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the theme of the 45th SADC Summit held in Antananarivo earlier this year: “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC.”
The region will continue to focus on these areas of growth and development throughout 2026.
In a gesture of continued cooperation, President Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe offered to host select SADC meetings during the interim period.
The offer was welcomed by summit participants as a sign of Zimbabwe's ongoing commitment to the goals of regional integration.
In his closing remarks, the Chairperson of SADC expressed his gratitude to all member states for their participation in the summit and for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading the organization during this period of transition.
The leaders emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to ensure the stability and prosperity of the SADC region.