SADC Leaders Hold Virtual Summit On Madagascar Crisis

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ Troika held an Extraordinary Summit virtually on 16 October 2025 to discuss the ongoing political and social situation in Madagascar.

The Summit was convened following the impeachment of President Andry Rajoelina by parliament amid escalating unrest. Rajoelina fled the country, citing threats to his life.

Colonel Michael Randrianirina, from the elite CAPSAT military unit, led the takeover and was promptly sworn in as transitional president on 17 October 2025.

The meeting was chaired by Malawi’s President, Arthur Peter Mutharika, in his capacity as Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

It was attended by Tanzania’s Vice President, Philip Isdor Mpango, Eswatini’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Polite Shakantu, as well as ministers from other Organ Troika member states and the SADC Executive Secretary.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the SADC Organ Troika reaffirmed its commitment to supporting efforts to restore peace, stability, and democratic governance in Madagascar.

The Summit urged all Malagasy stakeholders to engage in inclusive dialogue as the main avenue for resolving the current crisis and called on all parties to refrain from violence, looting, and the destruction of property.

Leaders emphasised the need to restore calm and create an environment conducive to constructive engagement. The Chairperson of the Organ was tasked with delivering a message to the Malagasy authorities.

The Summit also called for the protection of vulnerable groups, including young people, the elderly, women, and persons with disabilities.

To better understand the situation on the ground, the Organ Troika approved the urgent deployment of a Technical Secretariat made up of representatives from member states, supported by the SADC Secretariat.

The team is expected to conduct a fact-finding mission in Madagascar by 22 October 2025 and report back to the Chairperson by 31 October.

Once the mission report is completed, another Extraordinary Summit of the Organ Troika will be convened to review its findings and consider further action regarding Madagascar’s political and security situation.

The SADC Secretariat was also directed to work closely with strategic partners such as the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN) to ensure coordinated and effective responses.

Additionally, the Summit approved a comprehensive review of the roadmap to end the crisis in Madagascar. The assessment will be carried out by the Organ Troika Member States with support from the SADC Panel of Elders, the Mediation Reference Group, and the SADC Secretariat.