Madagascar officially assumed the presidency of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers on Tuesday, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Rafaravavitafika Rasata representing the nation.
During the handover ceremony held that same day, Rasata outlined the key objectives for her one-year term, which are aligned with the priorities established in the SADC’s regional strategic development indicative plan.
“Our efforts will concentrate on industrialization, agricultural transformation to feed the region using our own resources, energy transition, and, crucially, enhancing our resilience against climate, economic, and security shocks,” she stated.
The Malagasy presidency aims to pay special attention to the needs of island states, which have often been overlooked in regional priorities. It will advocate for full recognition of their unique circumstances and support the adoption of policies tailored to their realities, fostering genuinely inclusive integration.
“However, significant challenges remain,” Rasata reminded attendees, highlighting issues such as post-pandemic economic recovery, a perceived slow pace of industrialization, limited intra-regional trade, the preservation of regional security amid various threats, and global geopolitical instability.
In light of these challenges, the Malagasy minister emphasized the necessity of collective action and resource pooling.
