By Pemphero Malimba:
The Southern African Development Community (Sadc) has approved the deployment of a panel of elders, led by Malawi’s former president Joyce Banda, to Madagascar to foster efforts to bring peace in that country.
This transpired during an extraordinary Sadc Summit of Heads of State and Government held virtually on Wednesday.
The summit, according to a communique read by Sadc Executive Secretary Elias Mpedi Magosi, wants the panel to engage stakeholders to ensure the prevalence of peace and security.
“The summit approved the deployment of a panel of elders by March 2026, led by Dr Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi, together with the mediation reference group supported by the secretariat to facilitate processes of restoration of political stability, democracy and peace in the republic of Madagascar,” the communique reads.
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The summit also directed the panel to engage Mozambique’s former president Joaquim Chissano for background information on interventions and outstanding issues focusing on constitutional reforms, electoral processes and the rule of law, in line with the Sadc Treaty.
It further says the summit has engaged the transitional government of Madagascar to initiate the transitional government of Malagasy-led and owned dialogue during the transition period to pave the way for fresh elections and facilitate a peaceful return of political exiles.
“The summit further called the transition government of Madagascar to ensure that the reform processes are timely, inclusive of all stakeholders and create a conducive environment in which political exiles can contribute [to efforts aimed at initiating] meaningful dialogue,” it says.
It also directed the secretariat, in collaboration with the African Union and international partners, to coordinate financial, technical and logistical resources for reforms and avoid the fragmentation of efforts.
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Sadc also urged the Republic of Madagascar to submit a dialogue readiness report and draft a national
Road map by February 2026, followed by periodic updates to Sadc in May, August and November.
Meanwhile, the summit has elected South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa as Sadc Chairperson.
Ramaphosa said the people of Madagascar were crucial to ending political and security instability in that country.
During the meetings, leaders of Sadc considered recommendations made by a technical fact-finding mission to Madagascar upon deployment by the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, which is chaired by President Peter Mutharika.
Malawi was represented by Vice-President Jane Ansah.
Ansah said Malawi subscribes to the recommendations tabled before the summit and that it was committed to ensuring that normalcy returns to Madagascar. “[We] are committed to ensuring] that peace and stability prevail for the prosperity of that great sister nation,” she said.
