South Africa has formally undertaken interim leadership of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), following a request by the regional body’s Executive Secretary, Mr Elias Mpedi, amid unfolding political instability in Madagascar.
The South African government confirmed in an official statement issued on Thursday that this transitional leadership was endorsed at a high-level SADC engagement held in Cape Town earlier this week. The decision comes after the recent ousting of Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina, who had been serving as the sitting Chairperson of SADC, in a military takeover that has thrown the island nation into renewed political uncertainty.
In the communiqué, the South African government stated that it had “approved the request from the Executive Secretary of SADC for South Africa to assume interim leadership of SADC due to the recent political developments in Madagascar.” The statement emphasised that the interim leadership will involve South Africa hosting all SADC-related meetings from November 2025 onwards and holding responsibilities until the next formal Summit of Heads of State and Government decides on permanent leadership arrangements.
This transfer of responsibility is grounded in the institutional framework of the SADC Treaty, specifically Articles 9A(2)(b) and 10(4), which provide for the temporary assumption of Chairperson duties when the incumbent is unable to discharge them. According to the treaty provisions, “the incoming Chairperson should resume interim responsibilities until the Summit decides otherwise.”
The backdrop to this development is the intensifying political crisis in Madagascar, where former President Rajoelina was removed from office by military forces earlier in October. The military’s intervention, which has drawn expressions of concern from both regional and international actors, disrupted what had been a fragile political equilibrium. Given Madagascar’s centrality in regional cooperation at the time, its leadership role in SADC became untenable, prompting the need for institutional continuity through the mechanism of interim leadership.
To oversee the transition and maintain operational stability within the SADC framework, the South African government will establish an Inter-Ministerial Committee. This body is tasked with guiding, coordinating, and monitoring preparations and execution related to South Africa’s assumption of SADC responsibilities.
The interim arrangement reflects the broader Pan-African commitment to African-led responses to political disruptions within the continent. It underscores the imperative of collective regional responsibility, as framed in the founding ethos of SADC, which views peace, security, and economic cooperation as mutually reinforcing pillars for sustainable development.
South Africa’s assumption of this role also signals its continued engagement in continental multilateralism. As one of the founding members of SADC and a longstanding advocate for African integration, its interim stewardship of the organisation is seen as an effort to uphold institutional integrity while regional mechanisms for dispute resolution remain in motion.
The SADC Secretariat has not yet issued a detailed roadmap regarding Madagascar’s return to constitutional order, but regional observers suggest that diplomatic engagements are underway to explore negotiated pathways to stability.
This moment marks a critical junction not only for Madagascar but for the Southern African region as a whole, as it navigates the balance between state sovereignty and collective regional stability. Importantly, this leadership transition does not seek to isolate Madagascar, but rather to stabilise the mechanisms of intergovernmental cooperation, ensuring that SADC continues to function effectively while political resolution is pursued.
The unfolding situation remains fluid, and while no further disruptions have been reported in other member states, the SADC leadership has signalled its readiness to support a peaceful and inclusive resolution in Madagascar. As the region moves forward, the emphasis remains on African solidarity, institutional resilience, and the continued relevance of regional bodies like SADC in facilitating dialogue, development, and peace across the continent.
