Southern African leaders discuss political developments in Madagascar

Written by: Mohammed Omran

The heads of state and government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will meet on Monday in an extraordinary summit via video conference to discuss political and security developments in MadagascarAs part of the ongoing monitoring of the transitional phase that began after the overthrow of President Andry Rajoelina in October 2015, and the mediation efforts undertaken by the regional organization since then.

What does the SADC summit hold for Madagascar's political future?

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat announced on Sunday that the heads of state and government of member countries will hold an extraordinary summit via video conference, dedicated to discussing developments in the political and security situation in Madagascar.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at 5:00 PM Botswana time, chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the current chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Leaders will discuss the report of the organization's Political, Defence and Security Cooperation Body to assess the latest developments in Madagascar and outline the next steps for regional cooperation.

Leaders of the Southern African Development Community discuss the political situation in Madagascar

This summit comes amid a political transition that began after the ouster of President Andry Rajoelina in October 2015, following a severe crisis marked by anti-government protests, his removal from office by parliament, and a military coup led by Colonel Michel Randrianireina, who currently heads the transitional authorities. These developments led to the suspension of Madagascar's membership in the African Union, while several international partners called for a swift return to constitutional order.

In response to this crisis, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) intensified its diplomatic efforts. In October 2025, it dispatched a technical fact-finding mission, before agreeing during an extraordinary summit held in December of the same year to deploy a team of experts and a mediation reference group, with the aim of supporting political dialogue, institutional reforms and preparations for elections.

Since the beginning of 2026, former Malawian President Joyce Banda has led three shuttle diplomacy missions to Madagascar to facilitate dialogue between the transitional authorities, political forces, and civil society organizations. The group believes these efforts have contributed to progress toward national reconciliation, while emphasizing the need to continue the path toward a return to democratically elected government.

The heads of state are expected to study the findings of these missions and make decisions on the next steps to support Madagascar's transition to a sustainable constitutional system.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) comprises 16 member states and is the principal organization for regional integration in Southern Africa, working to promote economic cooperation and regional integration, as well as supporting peace, security and stability in the region.