COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 46TH ORDINARY SUMMIT OF SADC HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT 17th AUGUST 2026

1. The 46th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), hereafter called “Summit” was held on 17th August 2026, in Durban, Republic of South Africa and chaired by His Excellency Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa. 

2. Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government, or their representatives:

3. Summit was also attended by Ministers from the SADC Member States, and the Executive Secretary of SADC.

4. Summit elected His Excellency Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, the Chairperson of SADC, and the President of the Republic of Zambia, the Incoming Chairperson. 

5. Summit also elected His Majesty King Mswati III, of the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

6. Summit acknowledged the commitment expressed by His Excellency Dr. Mathew Antonio Patrick Herminie, President of the Republic of Seychelles, in his maiden address to the Summit, and welcomed his Government’s commitment to advancing the ideals upon which SADC was founded; solidarity, regional integration and a shared prosperity for the people of the SADC region.

7. Summit received the report of the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, and commended him for his leadership, commitment, and valuable contributions to promoting peace, security, stability, and democratic governance in the SADC region throughout his tenure.

8. Summit reiterated its solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and reaffirmed SADC's support for coordinated regional and international efforts to restore peace and security, protect civilians, strengthen humanitarian and public health responses, promote inclusive dialogue, and enhance resilience to ongoing challenges.

9. Summit welcomed constructive engagement in the Republic of Madagascar through the efforts of the SADC Panel of Elders, supported by the SADC Mediation Reference Group and the SADC Secretariat and reaffirmed SADC's commitment to supporting Madagascar's reform process and development agenda, including the promotion of inclusive governance, democratic institutions, accountability, human rights, and citizen participation and return to constitutional normalcy.

10. Summit urged the stakeholders in Madagascar to maintain the relative calm that prevails in the country and choose the path of dialogue to address their grievances.

11. Summit commended the Government of the Republic of Mozambique for the on-going inclusive national dialogue process and its continued efforts to combat terrorism and maintain peace and security in some districts of Cabo Delgado Province.

12. Summit commended His Excellency Mr Daniel Francisco Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique, for inaugurating the SADC Regional Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) in June 2026 in Maputo with the mandate to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.

13. Summit congratulated the Republic of Zimbabwe on its election as a Non-Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 2027-2028 term and expressed confidence in Zimbabwe’s ability to advance multilateral cooperation, promote international peace and security, and effectively represent the interests of the SADC region, Africa, and the Global South within the UNSC.

14. Summit reiterated its long-standing call for the removal of sanctions imposed on the Republic of Zimbabwe, highlighting that the sanctions continue to limit the Republic of Zimbabwe from attaining its full economic potential.

15. Summit noted the evolving global geopolitical and economic landscape and urged Member States to leverage emerging opportunities to deepen regional integration, strengthen trade and investment, mobilise domestic resources, and strengthen collective resilience to advance sustainable development and the regional agenda.

16. Summit received an update from the Republic of South Africa on migration governance and called for the coordinated and multidimensional dialogue at regional level to address the underlying drivers of migration and develop comprehensive, sustainable, and effective responses.

17. Summit urged Member States to strengthen disease surveillance and preparedness to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks and pandemics, including through timely information sharing and coordinated regional action and called for continued support to the Democratic Republic of Congo in responding to the Ebola (Bundibugyo Virus Disease) Outbreak.

18. Summit commended the Republics of Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe as well as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and other partners for providing financial and technical assistance in support of the response to the Ebola Outbreak.

19. Summit noted regional efforts to control and prevent the Foot and Mouth (FMD) outbreak and designated Botswana Vaccine Institute to be a regional FMD Antigen/Vaccine Bank to strengthen regional efforts for prevention and control of FMD outbreaks.

20. Summit commended Member States that have ratified the Agreement on the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund and urged those that have not yet ratified the Agreement to facilitate its entry into force to expedite the process in order to enhance resource mobilisation and accelerate the implementation of regional infrastructure, industrialisation, and socio-economic development programmes and projects.

21. Summit commended Member States that have made significant progress in promoting women to leadership and decision-making positions and urged those that have not yet attained the targets set out in the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, as well as other relevant continental and global instruments, to accelerate the advancement of women in leadership and decision-making positions, while also implementing targeted legislative frameworks and policies to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) and protect human rights.

22. Summit urged Member States to mainstream youth programmes across all sectors in national and regional development plans and to dedicate adequate resources to youth-centred initiatives that promote meaningful participation, skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, employment creation, and leadership opportunities, thereby enhancing socio-economic transformation, resilience, and sustainable development of the SADC region.

23. Summit urged Member States to increase regional trade in agricultural products by removing non-tariff barriers, harmonising standards, and improving cross-border logistics to ensure efficient movement of food commodities from surplus to deficit areas, thereby stabilising supply and prices across the region.

24. Summit urged Member States to enhance preparedness in view of the anticipated El Niño-induced climate shocks by implementing early warning systems, drought preparedness measures, and promoting climate-smart agriculture, including irrigation development and adoption of drought-tolerant crop varieties.

25. Summit noted the progress made in implementing the theme of the 45th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government titled, “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC,” and commended His Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa for his exemplary leadership and strategic guidance in advancing the key priorities of the theme during his tenure as Interim Chairperson of SADC.

26. Summit commended the Republic of South Africa for convening a Retreat of the SADC Ministers of Foreign Affairs on geo-political developments during the interim chairship which produced an Implementation Plan and Roadmap.

27. Summit received the report of the Mid-term Review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030 containing firm recommendations to identify few high-impact priorities including industrialisation, resource mobilisation framework, regional value chains, agro-processing, critical minerals and just energy transition, economic corridors, one-stop border posts, health financing

28. Summit commended His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Outgoing Chairperson of SADC for his unwavering support and commitment towards advancing regional integration and economic development in the SADC region during the interim period as a member of the SADC Troika.

29. Summit endorsed the theme of the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government titled, “Resilient, Sustainable, and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World,” highlighting infrastructure, agriculture, and critical minerals as key drivers of industrialisation for a competitive, climate-resilient, inclusive, and prosperous SADC region.

30. Summit approved the Agreement Establishing the SADC Tourism UNIVISA and called for its signature by Member States, recognising its importance in facilitating seamless travel across the region, enhancing tourism growth, promoting regional integration, and boosting economic development through increased visitor arrivals and investment.

31. Summit urged Member States to accede to SADC legal instruments, already in force and to expedite the signature and ratification of adopted SADC instruments that are yet to enter into force in order to accelerate regional integration and enhance cooperation amongst the Member States to, amongst others, support infrastructure development, and advance harmonised economic growth.

32. Summit approved the appointment of His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, former President of the Republic of Botswana, and His Excellency Dr. Joaquim Alberto Chissano, former President of the Republic of Mozambique as members of the SADC Panel of Elders to support Mediation, Conflict Prevention and Preventative Diplomacy efforts in the SADC region.

33. Summit welcomed the invitation from the Republic of Angola to the SADC Heads of State and Government to participate in the Extraordinary Summit of the African Union on Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa, to be hosted by the Republic of Angola in Luanda from 29 to 30 August 2026.

34. Summit commended the Government of the Republic of South Africa for the successful organisation and hosting of the 9th Annual SADC Industrialisation Week and Exhibition, held in Durban, South Africa, from 26 to 31 July 2026, and welcomed its Declaration, urging Member States to strengthen regional industrial value chains to increase production, value addition, intra-SADC trade and industrial competitiveness.                          

35. Summit commended His Excellency Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa for his inspiring SADC Public Lecture delivered at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on 14 August 2026 under the theme titled, “Translating SADC Vision 2050 into Action: Pathways Towards Solidarity, Equality and Shared Prosperity,” and welcomed his call for the SADC  region to advance regional integration, industrialisation, infrastructure development, peace, security and inclusive development for the peoples of the SADC region to achieve the aspirations of the SADC Vision 2050

36. Summit expressed its appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of South Africa for the successful hosting of the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government and congratulated the country on the launch of a documentary showcasing the progress of regional integration and South Africa’s role in advancing the objectives of SADC since joining the Community in 1994.

37. The Chairperson of SADC, His Excellency Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, expressed gratitude to all Heads of State and Government for attending the 46th Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, and for the honour of electing him to lead the SADC region.

38. Summit noted that the 47th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held in the Republic of Zambia.

Done on 17th August 2026

Durban, Republic of South Africa.