Eswatini's former Deputy Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, will lead the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to Malawi for its elections slated for September 16th.

Lesotho has been removed from the agenda of the SADC Organ Troika, as announced following deliberations at the 45th Summit of Heads of State and Government on Sunday.

The removal is necessitated by what SADC describes as positive progress regarding the political and security situation in Lesotho.

The 45th SADC Summit has concluded, as regional leaders called for the urgent need for the harmonisation of Africa-led processes with other initiatives to bring about lasting peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

An estimated 60 million citizens in SADC were food insecure in 2024, representing 17% of the region's population.

This data was revealed by the SADC Executive Secretary, Elias Magosi, who said the situation calls for urgency in agricultural transformation and investments in the sector.

Zimbabwe has handed over the rotational SADC chairpersonship to Madagascar during the 45th SADC summit underway in Antananarivo.

SADC member states such as Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Mauritius all held general elections in 2024, during the chairmanship of Zimbabwe.

Calls for a re-look at trade engagements within the region and beyond dominated the maiden statements of SADC's new leaders.

These are President Duma Boko of Botswana, Mozambican President Daniel Chapo and the Prime Minister, Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has told fellow SADC leaders that the objectives of the development plans would not be realised when citizens are confronted by hunger, high youth unemployment and other socio-economic challenges.

A sustainable source of funding is crucial to the robust implementation of the activities of the SADC's Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation to ensure regional stability.

This and other matters dominated the SADC Organ Troika summit in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

The SADC region needs US$625 billion to be able to implement the priority projects outlined in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan. 

SADC leaders are set to review progress in the implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan, RISDP 2020-2030, during the 45th upcoming ordinary summit of Heads of State and Government.