Ramaphosa to chair virtual extraordinary SADC summit on regional resilience

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, chair and address the opening session of a virtual Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), in his capacity as the organisation’s interim Chairperson.

The Extraordinary Summit will be convened under the theme “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC”, reflecting the region’s strategic focus on inclusive economic growth, food security, and sustainable energy systems in the face of global and regional challenges.

Ahead of the Heads of State and Government engagement, the Summit will be preceded by preparatory meetings of SADC Senior Officials and the Council of Ministers, who will deliberate on key policy and governance matters to inform the leaders’ discussions.

Among the critical agenda items to be considered by the Summit is the report of the SADC fact-finding mission on the political situation in the Republic of Madagascar. The meeting will also address issues relating to the interim incoming Chairperson of SADC, in line with the organisation’s leadership and governance processes.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola, underscoring South Africa’s continued commitment to regional cooperation, stability, and integration within the SADC framework.

The Extraordinary Summit is expected to reaffirm SADC’s collective resolve to deepen regional integration and strengthen coordinated responses to political, economic, and developmental challenges across Southern Africa.