Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has assumed the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), taking over from Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa at the 45th Heads of State and Government Summit held in Antananarivo on 17–18 August 2025. The leadership handover comes at a crucial moment for the 16-member bloc, as expectations mount over whether Rajoelina can build on the momentum Mnangagwa created in linking regional peace, integration, and sustainable development.
When Mnangagwa took the helm in 2024, many anticipated a ceremonial role. Instead, he transformed the chairmanship into a stage for action, advancing both institutional reforms and long-term sustainability measures. Under his leadership, the bloc saw progress toward a SADC Parliament, giving member states a more inclusive governance framework. His commissioning of a Regional Logistics Depot in Botswana strengthened the region’s preparedness for climate shocks, disasters, and humanitarian crises, while the ratification of the SADC Regional Development Fund signaled a shift toward mobilising resources from states, donors, and private partners. He also championed industrialisation in ways that positioned SADC to boost trade and cooperation while opening space for greener, more resilient value chains.
Beyond development, Mnangagwa reshaped the bloc’s approach to peace and security. He inherited a faltering combat mission in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, yet moved the conversation from military stalemate to African-led diplomacy. By merging the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes under the African Union’s umbrella, and steering SADC toward cooperation with the East African Community, he demonstrated pragmatism that reduced costs and elevated diplomacy over force. Even Rwanda’s foreign minister praised his leadership as “exceptional,” underscoring the regional and international recognition Mnangagwa earned by the end of his tenure.
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Rajoelina, now stepping into the chair, faces the challenge of sustaining this momentum. His task is to consolidate the gains made on peacebuilding in the DRC, turn institutional treaties such as the parliament and development fund into operational realities, and ensure that regional infrastructure corridors and border reforms drive inclusive growth while supporting sustainability. Unlike his predecessor, who thrived in the spotlight, Rajoelina must balance the demands of regional leadership with his own domestic political fragility. Madagascar’s governance challenges risk constraining his ability to command the bloc with the same vigor Mnangagwa displayed.
The question, then, is whether Rajoelina’s charisma and political theatre will be enough to carry SADC through this moment. His personal journey, from disc jockey to mayor, coup leader, and ultimately head of state, has been remarkable, but the chairmanship demands more than flair. It requires steady statesmanship and a commitment to embedding sustainability across peace, food security, energy, and industrialisation. If Rajoelina can deliver credible leadership in these areas, he may succeed in positioning SADC as a driver of Africa’s sustainable future.
For the region, the chairmanship is far from symbolic. It sets the tone for how southern Africa responds to climate shocks, food insecurity, fragile peace, and the challenges of integration. Mnangagwa left the stage having turned words into action and redefining what the role could mean. Now, with the Antananarivo summit fresh in memory, all eyes are on Rajoelina to see whether he will merely manage the post or match his predecessor’s activist streak. The answer will determine whether SADC continues to move toward becoming a more integrated, resilient, and sustainable region, or whether this moment becomes a pause rather than a turning point.
