The Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened an Extraordinary Virtual Summit of Heads of State and Government on 21 October 2026, chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in his capacity as SADC Chairperson.
The Summit made key leadership decisions to strengthen the region’s peace and integration architecture.
In a major move for the region’s security arm, Prime Minister of Lesotho, Rt. Hon. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, was elected as the Incoming Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. His appointment completes the Organ Troika, which now includes His Majesty King Mswati III of Eswatini as the current Chair, and President Arthur Peter Mutharika of Malawi as the outgoing Chair.
The Summit also approved the appointment of Ms. Treasure Thembisile Maphanga from the Kingdom of Eswatini as the new Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration. Maphanga brings over 30 years of continental experience in trade policy, industrialisation, digital economy, institutional reform, and resource mobilisation. Leaders expressed confidence that her expertise will accelerate delivery of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030 and deepen the vision of a more integrated and resilient region.
The Regional Integration portfolio oversees strategic programmes on trade, industrial development, infrastructure, food security, social development and economic cooperation among Member States.
The Summit paid tribute to the outgoing Deputy Executive Secretary, Ms. Angèle Makombo N’Tumba, whose four-year tenure ends on 26 October 2026, commending her contribution to advancing regional integration.
On disaster resilience, the Summit congratulated Mozambique’s President Daniel Francisco Chapo, who is the AU Champion for Disaster Risk Management, for hosting the inaugural International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Maputo from 13 to 15 October 2026. The conference, held under the theme on proactive governance and investment for resilience, called for stronger action on disaster commitments.
With the 2026/2027 El Niño and cyclone season approaching, leaders urged Member States to bolster preparedness, anticipatory action and coordinated humanitarian response across the region.
The Summit concluded with appreciation to President Ramaphosa and South Africa for hosting, and a renewed call for collective efforts to advance peace, stability and sustainable development in Southern Africa.
