The Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held virtually on 21 October 2026 under the Chairpersonship of His Excellency Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa.
Among the key decisions taken, Summit elected the Right Honourable Mr. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, as the Incoming Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. His election completes the Organ Troika, joining His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini as the Current Organ Chairperson and His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, Outgoing Chairperson.
Summit approved the appointment of Ms. Treasure Thembisile Maphanga, a continental trade, industrial policy, digital economy and institutional development executive from the Kingdom of Eswatini, as the new SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration.
In approving her appointment, Summit expressed confidence that her leadership, expertise and experience spanning over a period of 30 years in policy formulation, trade negotiations, institutional reform, public-private partnerships, resource mobilisation and programme delivery to accelerate the implementation of regional priorities outlined in the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030 and advance SADC's vision of a more integrated, prosperous and resilient region.
The function of the SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration provides strategic oversight of programmes that promote regional trade, industrialisation, infrastructure development, food security, social and human development, and deeper economic cooperation among Member States.
In the same vein, Summit expressed gratitude to Ms. Angèle Makombo N’Tumba, whose contract as SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration will come to an end on 26 October 2026, for her dedicated service and contribution to advancing regional integration and the socio-economic development agenda of the SADC region during her four-year tenure at the SADC Secretariat.
Summit congratulated His Excellency Daniel Fransico Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique and African Union Champion for Disaster Risk Management for hosting the inaugural International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in Africa in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique, from 13 to 15 October 2026 under the theme: “Scaling Proactive Governance and Strategic Investment for Disaster Risk Reduction and a Resilient Africa” which called for accelerated implementation of disaster risk reduction commitments, stronger partnerships and increased investment in resilience-building initiatives across Africa.
Summit further urged Member States to strengthen regional disaster preparedness, enhance anticipatory action and improve coordination in responding to emerging humanitarian risks across the region in anticipation of the cascading impacts of 2026/2027 El Niño and Cyclone Season in Southern Africa.
Summit expressed appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa and the Government of the Republic of South Africa for the successful hosting of the Extraordinary Summit and for his continued leadership and commitment to advancing the SADC regional integration agenda.
Closing the meeting, the SADC Chairperson, President Ramaphosa, thanked all Heads of State and Government and their representatives for their participation and reaffirmed the importance of collective efforts in promoting regional integration, peace, stability, and sustainable development across the SADC region.
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SADC in Brief
SADC is an organisation of 16 Member States established in 1980 as the Southern African Development Coordinating Conference (SADCC) and later transformed into SADC in August 1992. SADC’s mission is to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and socio-economic development through deeper cooperation and integration, good governance, and durable peace and security, so that the region emerges as a competitive and effective player in international relations and the global economy. Member States are Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Cape Town, South Africa
21 October 2026
