Ramaphosa Calls for Stronger SADC Institutions to Accelerate Regional Integration and Peace
Pretoria, The Gulf Observer: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for stronger and more effective institutions of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to accelerate regional integration, consolidate peace and stability, and improve the living standards of people across the region.
Addressing the virtual Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government on Wednesday, Ramaphosa emphasized that the effectiveness of the regional organization depended not only on the decisions it adopted but also on its ability to translate commitments into practical results.
He called for greater urgency in moving from agreements to implementation, strategies to programmes, and commitments to measurable outcomes.
The summit, held just over two months after the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit in Durban in August, primarily focused on resolving outstanding leadership and institutional matters. These included the appointment of the Deputy Executive Secretary responsible for Regional Integration and the election of the incoming Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Ramaphosa said these decisions were essential to strengthening SADC’s institutional capacity and advancing the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020–2030 and the region’s long-term Vision 2050.
He stressed that regional integration must deliver tangible benefits to citizens through employment creation, improved transport and energy networks, enhanced food security, increased trade and expanded economic opportunities.
“Regional integration should be more than a mere aspiration expressed in declarations. It must become a reality for the people living in Southern Africa,” he said.
Peace and Regional Stability
The South African President underscored the importance of appointing the incoming chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, noting that peace, security and political stability were fundamental to regional development and prosperity.
Expressing concern over continuing instability and humanitarian suffering in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ramaphosa called for sustained regional cooperation to achieve a peaceful resolution.
He reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to supporting the African Union and other regional and international partners in ending conflicts and creating conditions for lasting peace.
Regarding Madagascar, he emphasized the need to support inclusive dialogue, political stability, institutional reform and a return to constitutional normality.
He also acknowledged ongoing efforts in Mozambique to promote peace, security and development, particularly initiatives to combat terrorism in Cabo Delgado.
Ramaphosa stressed that peace required sustained efforts, stronger institutions and responses to the legitimate aspirations of citizens. He further highlighted the importance of constitutionalism, democratic governance, the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Climate Resilience and Disaster Preparedness
Addressing climate-related challenges, Ramaphosa warned that increasingly frequent and severe droughts, floods, tropical cyclones and other extreme weather events continued to threaten communities, food supplies, shared infrastructure and economic activities across Southern Africa.
He recalled that the severe El Niño-induced drought of 2023 and 2024 had exposed the region’s vulnerability to climate variability, affecting millions of people through food and water insecurity, reduced agricultural production, livestock losses and disrupted livelihoods.
With another agricultural season approaching, developing El Niño conditions posed additional risks to food security, water availability and economic activity. He cautioned that recurring floods and cyclones could undermine development gains and place further pressure on public finances.
The President called for stronger regional disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, improved early warning systems and increased investment in climate-resilient infrastructure.
He also congratulated Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo on hosting the International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in Africa in Maputo from October 13 to 15, 2026. Chapo was selected by the African Union as its Champion for Disaster Risk Management.
Ramaphosa said the conference provided an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation, mobilize investment and promote a proactive approach to disaster risk management.
He urged SADC member states to build on the conference’s outcomes by expanding cooperation in water management, agricultural resilience, disaster financing, infrastructure development and the protection of vulnerable communities.
He emphasized that regional security extended beyond political and military concerns to encompass economic, environmental and human security.
Focus on Implementation and Tangible Results
Concluding his address, Ramaphosa reiterated that the challenges confronting Southern Africa required capable regional institutions that could provide effective leadership and practical solutions to shared problems.
He urged member states to preserve the solidarity, consensus and mutual respect that had characterized SADC throughout its history while ensuring continuity and stability within its institutions.
The President expressed confidence that the summit would produce decisions capable of strengthening the organization and advancing the collective interests of the region’s people.
He emphasized that SADC’s success should ultimately be measured not by the number of resolutions adopted but by the tangible progress achieved in improving the lives of people across Southern Africa.
