Leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are examining a fact-finding mission's report on the political crisis in Madagascar. President Cyril Ramaphosa, serving as interim chair, is leading the extraordinary summit. The discussions aim to promote dialogue amid recent unrest in the island nation.
Several heads of state and government from the Southern African Development Community gathered for an extraordinary summit to consider the outcomes of a fact-finding mission dispatched to Madagascar. Chaired by South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa in his role as interim SADC chair, the meeting addresses the escalating tensions on the island.
The unrest in Madagascar traces back to widespread youth-led protests against President Andry Rajoelina, primarily driven by chronic shortages of water and electricity. These demonstrations, which intensified in September, culminated in a military takeover in October. SADC leaders have consistently urged all parties to engage in dialogue to resolve the impasse peacefully.
Ramaphosa emphasized the broader regional implications during the summit on Wednesday. He stated, "The developments in Madagascar in September this year brought to the fore the urgent need to accelerate the implementation of our regional development objectives to attain our SADC Vision 2050. This vision seeks to achieve a region whose peoples live in peace and harmony and can realise their economic potential."
He further added, "Like all peoples in our region and our continent, the people of Madagascar yearn for durable peace and development. We have a collective responsibility to make this a reality."
This summit represents a key effort to foster stability across the SADC region, underscoring the interconnected challenges of peace and economic progress.
