The SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Ms Angéle Makombo N’Tumba, held a courtesy meeting with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, H.E. Ms. Ana Isabel Xavier, in Gaborone, Botswana on 19 March 2026.
The courtesy call provided an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest and to explore avenues strengthening and deepening cooperation between the two parties in support of promoting regional integration.
SADC Deputy Executive Secretary congratulated H.E. Ms Ana Isabel Xavier on her appointment as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, in June 2025, as well as H.E. Mr. Carlos António Rico da Costa Neves, on his appointment as the new Ambassador of Portugal to Botswana. She further reiterated SADC Secretariat’s commitment to collaborate with Portugal to strengthen cooperation and advance regional integration.
H.E. Ms Ana Isabel Xavier expressed appreciation to the SADC Secretariat for the fruitful engagement and assured that Portugal remains committed to strengthen the existing cooperation with SADC to promote regional integration. She highlighted that Portugal’s international cooperation is guided by the Portuguese Development Cooperation Strategy 2030, whose implementation is coordinated by Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language (Camões Institute), an entity under the oversight of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. The Camões Institute is mandated to promote the Portuguese language, culture, and international cooperation.
SADC and Portugal primarily cooperate through the framework of the European Union (EU), of which Portugal has been a member since 1986. The main EU support to the region is currently facilitated through the NDICI – Global Europe financial framework, operationalised through the programming and implementation of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Indicative Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (MIP SSA). Through this framework, SADC has successfully mobilised Euro 195.9 million to support key regional programmes and priorities.
The SADC Secretariat remains committed to deepening its cooperation with Portugal and the European Union in pursuit of a more integrated and prosperous Southern African region.
