SADC Secretariat

#SADC Executive Secretary, His Excellency Mr. Elias Magosi, today the 21st March 2025 witnessed the historic inauguration of Namibia’s first female President Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah in Windhoek, Republic of Namibia. Her Excellency Nandi-Ndaitwah won the Namibian Presidential Election in November 2024 to become one of just a handful of female leaders in Africa after the likes of H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, H.E. Joyce Banda of Malawi and H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan of the United Republic of Tanzania. All three leaders attended Nandi-Ndaitwah’s inauguration. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s swearing-in coincided with the 35th anniversary of Namibia’s independence, but the ceremony was switched from the Independence Stadium where thousands were due to attend the official presidential office because of heavy rains and instead ended up being held at the State House. A warm Congratulations to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Namibian people. #Namibia@35 #inauguration #IndependenceCelebration

𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗨 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗭𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘄𝗲 15 March 2025, Gaborone, Botswana: A Ministerial Partnership Dialogue between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the European Union (EU) was successfully held on 15 March 2025, in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe, where the two parties engaged on issues of mutual interest, including peace and security, human and sustainable development, climate change, environment, trade and investment.   Honourable Prof. Amon Murwira, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Top of Form and current Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers co-chaired the Dialogue with the Honourable Radosław Sikorski, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Poland, representing the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. The Dialogue took place in a spirit of partnership, a collaborative and cooperative atmosphere, and served as a platform to reinforce the relations between SADC and the EU and promote cooperation in peace and security, trade and policies aimed at sustainable economic growth and economic reforms in the SADC region.   The Dialogue deliberated on global, continental and regional issues impacting on the peace and security situation of the region and beyond, as well as on development and cooperation. It took stock of the progress in the implementation of the SADC-EU Cooperation and the 2021-2027 Multiannual Indicative Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (MIP SSA). The two parties also celebrated their partnership and the successful implementation of cooperation and financing agreements supporting SADC regional programmes. The full Press Release and Joint Communique can be accessed on the SADC website at the 🔗 👇🏾 https://lnkd.in/eupC46Gi

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖-𝗘𝗨 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 In the framework of the Global Gateway, the EU and SADC, celebrate today, during the SADC-EU Ministerial Dialogue, their partnership implemented under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe). This partnership is successfully being implemented through a package of eight cooperation agreements worth EUR 163.9 million signed between both parties since 2023 under the EU’s 2021-2027 Multiannual Indicative Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa. The cooperation package extends support towards peace and security, trade and transport facilitation, natural resources management, agri-food systems, institutional capacity building and digital transformation in Southern Africa. SADC and its strategic partner the EU, have built a strong and comprehensive partnership, that will continue to grow. This partnership enhances SADC’s role as a key driver of sustainable and inclusive economic growth and socioeconomic development through the implementation of the regional integration agenda.

COMMUNIQUÉ DE LA RÉUNION EXTRAORDINAIRE DU SOMMET DES CHEFS D’ÉTAT ET DE GOUVERNEMENT DE LA COMMUNAUTÉ DE DÉVELOPPEMENT DE L’AFRIQUE AUSTRALE (SADC) 13 mars 2025

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY H.E. MR ELIAS M. MAGOSI, SADC EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, ON THE OCCASION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT ON THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE DEMODRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO HELD VIRTUALLY ON 13 MARCH 2025 HARARE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE

WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE AND CHAIRPERSON OF SADC, HIS EXCELLENCY, DR. E.D. MNANGAGWA AT THE VIRTUAL EXTRAORDINARY SADC SUMMIT ON THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO HARARE, ZIMBABWE 13 MARCH 2025

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will hold an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government on 13th March 2025 in a virtual format to discuss the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗤𝗨𝗘́ 𝗗𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗘 𝗟𝗮 𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝘂𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗳𝘀 𝗱'𝗘́𝘁𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘂𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲́𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲́𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 La Communauté de développement de l'Afrique australe (SADC) tiendra un Sommet extraordinaire des chefs d'État et de gouvernement par vidéoconférence le 13 mars 2025 afin d’examiner la situation sécuritaire en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC). For more information on SADC follow us on these platforms: Website: https://www.sadc.int YouTube: @SADCnews Facebook: @SADC X(formerly Twitter): @SADC_News LinkedIn: Southern African Development Community (SADC) Instagram: @SADC

#𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘆 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗔𝗢 𝗦𝘂𝗯-𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 The Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (#SADC), H.E Elias M. Magosi today 09 March 2025 met with the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Sub-Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa, Dr Patrice Talla. The Courtesy visit took place in Harare, Zimbabwe at the margins of the SADC Ordinary Council of Ministers Meeting to take place from 12-13 March 2025. The Executive Secretary was accompanied by the #SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Ms. Angèle Makombo N’Tumba, Director of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dr. Domingos Gove and Director of Industrial Development & Trade, Mr. Dhunraj Kassee. The main purpose of the meeting was for the FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator to meet the Executive Secretary to discuss issues of mutual interest more specially with regard to food security in the region. The #SADC Secretariat and FAO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 18th September 2020. The MoU aims to promote cooperation mainly in the areas of food security and agriculture, including livestock and crops; natural resources, including fisheries/aquaculture and forestry;environment and climate change; and animal and plant genetic resources conservation. Subsequently, an Action Plan was developed in March 2021 by the two organisations, to guide their joint work, including resource mobilisation. The Executive Secretary thanked the FAO for their technical and financial support provided to the Region and to individual Member States to progress with the implementation of the #SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020-2030), in the area of Agriculture and Food Security; Blue Economy, Fisheries and Aquaculture; Natural Resource Management; and Environment and Climate Change. H.E. Magosi underscored the willingness of #SADC Secretariat to continue working closely with FAO to fully implement RISDP 2020-2030 in those sectors. On his part Dr. Talla emphasised the need to review the current MoU 2020-2025, and develop and sign a new MoU for the period 2025–2030 to progress with the joint implementation of the RISDP 2020-2030, as well as the Kampala Declaration, approved in January 2025 by the Africa Head of States and Government, on Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme. For more information on #SADC follow us on these platforms: Website: http://www.sadc.int YouTube: @SADCnews Facebook: @SADC X (formerly Twitter): @SADC_News Linkedin: Southern African Development Community (SADC)

𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗕𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗘𝗫𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗬 𝗠𝗥. 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗦 𝗠 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗢𝗦𝗜 𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡’𝗦 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟬𝟴 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women and girls in our region, applauding their achievements and efforts towards gender equality and empowerment. Gender equality remains a fundamental human right, and essential for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. However, the world, including the SADC region, is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Agenda targets. At the regional level, the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development underscores integrating gender issues into the SADC Programme of Action and Community Building Initiatives, yet negative social, cultural and religious practices, as well as mindsets that impede women’s progression and aggravate gender-based violence, continue to hinder gender equality and equity. Happy Women’s Day! #womensdaycelebration #sadccelebrateswomen

𝙎𝘼𝘿𝘾 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙨 𝙖 𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙞𝙠𝙖 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙨, 𝙎𝘼𝙈𝙄𝘿𝙍𝘾 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙥𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙤 𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙎𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝘿𝙍𝘾 The Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened a virtual Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organ Troika on 06 March 2025 and deliberated on the escalating security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Summit was chaired by Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The Summit was also attended by His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi and Incoming Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia and Outgoing Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; ; His Excellency Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, which is one of the Troop Contributing Countries to the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), and His Excellency Mr. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Extraordinary Summit received the latest updates on the security situation in the Eastern part of the DRC and deliberated on the Report of the Defence Sub-Committee on the Review of the SAMIDRC Mandate. The outcomes and recommendations from the Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit will be presented to the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government to be convened soon, on a date to be confirmed. In her opening statement Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, underscored that the SADC region would do its utmost best to assist the DRC and reiterated SADC’s solidarity with the people of DRC in the spirit of unity and cooperation. Summit expressed its deepest condolences to the Democratic Republic Congo, the Republics of South Africa and Malawi, and the United Republic of Tanzania for the deceased soldiers who lost their lives during the recent attacks in the Eastern DRC, and whilst serving under the SAMIDRC, and wished those injured a speedy recovery. Summit also reiterated its commitment to supporting interventions aimed at bringing lasting peace and security in the Eastern DRC, in line with the SADC Mutual Defence Pact of 2003. The Summit commended the Chairperson of the SADC Organ, Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, for urgently convening the Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit following the meeting of the Defence Sub-Committee, as agreed during the Extraordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government on 31 January 2025, in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe.