Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has assumed the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), becoming the first leader from his country to head the 16-member bloc. He took over the rotating presidency from Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the opening of the 45th SADC Summit in Antananarivo.

This year’s summit is being held under the theme “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC.” Rajoelina described the focus as a pact for inclusive growth and self-reliance, stressing the need for stronger regional value chains to cut imports and enhance resilience.

Currently, intra-SADC trade accounts for just 18 percent of the region’s total trade. Rajoelina called this “too little” given the bloc’s vast potential, urging member states to speed up industrialisation, strengthen connectivity, and pursue deeper economic integration.

Outgoing chair Emmerson Mnangagwa praised the region’s collective progress and pledged Zimbabwe’s continued support for regional unity and development.