Antananarivo, Madagascar – August 14, 2025

Leaders from across Southern Africa have convened in Madagascar for the annual Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit, with a renewed focus on strengthening internal trade and reducing reliance on external partners.

The high-level gathering brings together heads of state and government from the 16-member bloc, under the theme:
“Removing Barriers, Accelerating Trade, and Retaining Value Within the Region.”

Speaking at the opening of the SADC Council of Ministers, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi warned that the region is being “squeezed by higher global tariffs, declining foreign aid, and political instability in major donor countries.” He called for urgent reforms that prioritize regional value chains, faster movement of goods across borders, and investment in local industries.

“Our region must act now to ensure economic resilience,” Magosi said. “We cannot build sustainable economies by depending on what we do not control.”

Key Priorities on the Table:

• Boosting intra-SADC trade through infrastructure upgrades and digitized customs systems

• Reducing external dependence on aid and imports by supporting regional manufacturing

• Harmonizing trade policies to eliminate red tape at borders

• Fostering political stability and integration

Delegates stressed that true development will only occur when Southern Africa becomes its own growth engine producing, processing, and trading more goods within its borders.

The summit comes amid shifting global trade dynamics and growing calls from African leaders to rethink their positions in global supply chains. The urgency of the discussions is amplified by economic shocks, climate change, and global conflicts that have disrupted food and energy security across the continent.

SADC member states are expected to issue a joint communiqué outlining practical steps toward trade liberalization, local value addition, and regional cooperation by the summit’s close.