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.

SADC deployed troops to Congo in December 2023 to support the Congolese army in combating rebel groups. Although the mission’s mandate was extended in late 2023, it faced significant challenges, including casualties in 2025. Troops from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi were deployed to stabilize eastern Congo, where M23 rebels have been active. Following the deaths of 14 South African and three Malawian peacekeepers in January, public opposition to the mission grew.

Following a virtual meeting of the SADC bloc, which includes Congo, the decision to withdraw the peacekeepers was made. Angola also announced plans to host peace talks between the Congolese government and M23 rebels. While no specific timeline for the withdrawal was given, the process will occur in phases.

South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola called for the withdrawal of all non-invited forces in the region and stressed the need for a ceasefire. President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed support for the peace talks and underscored the importance of ongoing humanitarian and political assistance to ensure the ceasefire holds.

The SADC mission, part of a broader force presence in the region, faced difficulties in an area rich in mineral resources but plagued by armed groups fighting for control and territory. Some of these groups have been accused of committing mass killings and ethnic cleansing. The M23 rebels, with support from Rwanda, have taken control of key cities in eastern Congo, worsening the humanitarian crisis, which has displaced over 7 million people.

The decision to withdraw came after M23 seized Goma and Bukavu and amid the deaths of several peacekeepers in January. SADC had extended the mission’s mandate until 2024, and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, SADC’s chairman, called for continued support for the safe withdrawal of troops and stressed the importance of dialogue for lasting peace in the region.