45th SADC Summit 2025 – Joint Communique

Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC

Antananarivo, 17 August 2025

1. The 45th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), hereafter called “Summit” was held on 17th August 2025, in Antananarivo, Republic of Madagascar.

2. Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government, or their representatives:

No.	Country	Representative and Designation
1	Botswana	President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko
2	Eswatini	His Majesty King Mswati III
3	Lesotho	The Right Honorable Prime Minister MR. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane
4	Madagascar	HE President Andry Rajoelina
5	Mauritius	Honorable Prime Minister Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP
6	Mozambique	HE President Mr Daniel Francisco Chapo
7	Namibia	Her Excellency President Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
8	South Africa	HE President Mr Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa
9	Zimbabwe	HE President Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
10	Tanzania	HE Vice-President Dr Philip Isdor Mpango
11	Comoros	HE Prime Minister Dr Aboubacar Said Anli
12	DR Congo	HE Deputy Prime Minister Mr Guy Muadiamvita Kabombo
13	Angola	HE Minister of External Relations Tete Antonio
14	Zambia	Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mulambo Haimbe
15	Malawi	Hon. Minister of Trade & Industry Eng. Vitumbiko Mumba
16	Seychelles	Hon. Principal Minister Mr Jean-Francois Ferrari

3.Summit was also attended by Ministers from the SADC Member States, and the Executive Secretary of SADC.

4. Summit elected His Excellency Mr. Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar, the Chairperson of SADC, and His Excellency Mr. Matamela Cyril
Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, the Incoming Chairperson of SADC.

5. Summit elected His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security
Cooperation, and His Majesty King Mswati III, of the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Incoming Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

6. Summit expressed its heartfelt condolences on the passing of Dr. Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma, Founding President of the Republic of Namibia; Dr.
Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Sixth President of the Republic of Zambia; Mr. David Dabede Mabuza, former Deputy President of the Republic South Africa; Senator
Constance Simelane, former Deputy Prime Minister of Kingdom of Eswatini; and Prince Mabandla Dlamini, former Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

7. Summit also paid solemn tribute to the men and women who lost their lives during the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC), whose
courage and sacrifice embody the highest ideals of solidarity, unity and peace, principles that continue to strengthen the SADC community.

8. Summit congratulated Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana; Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the
Republic of Namibia; His Excellency Mr. Daniel Francisco Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique; and Honourable Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime
Minister of the Republic of Mauritius, on their election and delivery of maiden speeches, and welcomed their affirmed commitment to the principles, objectives,
and integration agenda of SADC.

9. Summit received a report from the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, and commended her for exemplary leadership and commitment to advancing peace and security in the region throughout her
tenure.

10. Summit reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to promoting peace, security, and stability in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and welcomed the joint mediation efforts undertaken by the African Union Commission (AUC), SADC and East African Community (EAC), and the process integrating the Luanda and
Nairobi Peace Processes, while acknowledging the urgent need for complementarity and harmonisation between Africa-led processes with other
initiatives, including the Washington Accord 2025 and the Doha Declaration of Principles of 2025.

11. Summit commended the Kingdom of Lesotho for the passage and enactment of the 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Lesotho, marking a
significant milestone in the advancement and near-finalisation of the national reforms process in the Kingdom.

12. Summit removed the Kingdom of Lesotho from the agenda of the Organ Troika, following the positive progress regarding the political and security situation in
Lesotho and applauded the SADC Panel of Elders, Mediation Reference Group, the Government and the people of Lesotho for their commitment to the
consolidation of peace and security.

13. Summit condemned the spread of misinformation about the deployment of the SAMIDRC and reiterated that the deployment was conducted in full compliance
with regional and international principles and obligations, with the objective of supporting SADC Member States in responding to external aggression.

14. Summit commended the people and Governments of the Republics of Botswana, Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia for conducting peaceful elections, and
applauded the Republic of Mozambique for holding the ongoing inclusive national dialogue.

15. Summit re-affirmed its solidarity with the people of Western Sahara in their quest for self-determination. In this regard, Summit welcomed the signing of the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SADC and the Western Sahara/Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

16. Summit affirmed the complementary nature of the United Nations-led process regarding the self-determination of Western Sahara and emphasised the
importance of alignment between the implementation of the SADC-SADR MoU, and the UN-led process, and all other efforts undertaken by the African Union.

17. Summit expressed concern over the ongoing attacks on civilians in Palestine (Gaza) which have resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of property, and
worsening humanitarian conditions and called for an immediate cease-fire, the release of all hostages, and the commencement of talks to bring a lasting solution
to the conflict.

18. Summit called for the accelerated establishment of the SADC Regional Development Fund as an independent Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), aimed at
enhancing regional economic resilience, supporting sustainable development, and mobilising long-term investment for SADC regional programmes.

19. Summit commended the United Republic of Tanzania for successfully hosting the Mission 300 African Energy Summit in January 2025 in Dare es Salaam, United
Republic of Tanzania, and directed the Secretariat to engage the World Bank, African Development Bank and other Cooperating Partners to support SADC
Member States in the development of National Energy Compacts by the end of 2025.

20. Summit urged Member States to promote women’s full and effective participation in political and decision-making processes, strengthen national systems for
coordinated data collection and regular surveys on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and increase support and funding for initiatives addressing its root causes.

21. Summit approved and signed the Agreement Amending the SADC Protocol on Finance and Investment, particularly provisions relating to Anti Money Laundering.

22. Summit directed the Secretariat to fast-track the development of the value proposition, investment plan, and roadmap for the North–South Economic
Corridor, and to accelerate the advancement of the SADC Maritime Corridor Strategy, aimed at enhancing trade, regional connectivity and economic
integration.

23. Summit noted the progress made in implementing the Theme of the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, titled “Promoting Innovation to
unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an Industrialised SADC”, and commended the Outgoing Chairperson of
SADC, His Excellency President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, for his exemplary leadership and strategic guidance in advancing the key priorities
outlined in the Theme as well as the programmes and projects of SADC during his tenure.

24. Summit endorsed the Theme of the 45th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, titled “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation,
and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC” and reaffirmed its commitment to industrial growth, agricultural modernisation, and a just energy transition as pillars
of a resilient and integrated SADC region。

25. Summit emphasised the importance of agriculture in ensuring food security and self-sufficiency and urged Member States to adopt regional strategies that
strengthen agricultural productivity and climate resilience, with emphasis on Climate Smart Agriculture, irrigation, post-harvest efficiency and regional blue
economy.

26. Summit called for increased investment in the control of Transboundary Animal Diseases, with particular emphasis on Foot and Mouth Disease, and urged
Member States to strengthen preparedness through targeted awareness initiatives, reinforced surveillance systems, and effective response mechanisms。

27. Summit urged Member States to implement the outcomes of the African Leaders’ meeting of the “Unite in Bold Drive to Fight Cholera” held in June 2025, by
establishing Presidential Task Forces, mobilising domestic resources, expanding water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, and strengthening coordination to
accelerate progress towards national and regional goals in the fight against Cholera.

28. Summit commended the Government of the Republic of Madagascar for the successful organisation and hosting of the 8th Annual SADC Industrialisation Week
and Exhibition, held in Antananarivo, Madagascar, from 28 July to 01 August 2025 in collaboration with the SADC Secretariat, the SADC Business Council, and the
Syndicat des Industries de Madagascar (SIM) which focused on advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition in the SADC
region.

29. noted the SADC Electoral Calendar for the remaining part of 2025, which includes elections in the Republics of Malawi and Seychelles in September and
the United Republic of Tanzania in October and wished the Member States successful elections.

30. The Summit urged Member States that are not parties to SADC Legal Instruments that have entered into force to accede to those SADC Legal Instruments, and
Member States that have not signed or ratified SADC Legal Instruments that have been adopted but are not yet in force, to sign or ratify those SADC Legal
Instruments, in order to strengthen the SADC legal frameworks that facilitate regional integration.

31. Summit re-appointed His Excellency Mr. Elias Mpedi Magosi as the SADC Executive Secretary for a second and final four-year term and expressed its
appreciation for his leadership and dedication to advance the regional integration and developmental aspirations of SADC.

32. The Summit expressed its appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Madagascar for the successful hosting of the 45th SADC Summit of
Heads of State and Government.

33. The Chairperson of SADC, His Excellency Mr. Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all Heads of State and
Government for attending the 45th Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, and for the honour of electing him to lead the regional community.