The Republic of Botswana, today the 26th March 2025 became the 14th SADC Member State to sign the Agreement amending the SADC Treaty to transform the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a SADC Parliament. The SADC Executive Secretary, His Excellency Mr. Elias Magosi, witnessed the signing ceremony.
The Agreement was signed at the Office of the President of Botswana in Gaborone. His Excellency, President Advocate Duma Boko of Botswana officiated the signing ceremony of the agreement amending to establish the SADC Parliament as an official SADC institution.
In his address, he reaffirmed Botswana’s unwavering commitment to regional cooperation, emphasising that the nation has always stood firmly behind the vision of the SADC Parliament. He highlighted its pivotal role in fostering unity, leadership, and collaboration among member states.
On his part, the SADC Executive Secretary commended Botswana on this milestone towards the amendment of the SADC Treaty.
The Agreement Amending the SADC Treaty was adopted by the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit at its meeting held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo on 17 August 2022. The Agreement establishes SADC Parliament as one of the Institutions of SADC under Article 9(1) of the SADC Treaty.
The Agreement requires signatures by 12 SADC Member States for it to enter into force.
The composition, powers, functions, procedures and other related matters governing SADC Parliament shall be prescribed in a Protocol to be negotiated by SADC Member States after the Agreement Amending the Treaty has entered into force.
The SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), which is situated in Windhoek, Namibia, was established as an institution of the SADC, in accordance with Article 9(2) of the SADC Treaty on 8 September 1997, by the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Blantyre, Republic of Malawi.
The Parliamentary Forum, which provides a platform for dialogue among the Parliaments from 15 SADC member states on issues of regional interest and concern, has a membership of over 3500 parliamentarians from the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
