Antananarivo: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has officially sanctioned a set of measures to bolster Madagascar's political reform efforts, including an expanded role for its Panel of Elders and the creation of a liaison office in Antananarivo to support these initiatives.
According to South African Government News Agency, the announcement came at the conclusion of an Extraordinary Virtual SADC Summit, where SADC Chairperson President Cyril Ramaphosa underscored the regional bloc's dedication to reinstating constitutional order, democratic governance, and enduring stability in Madagascar. The summit's resolutions included endorsing reports from three diplomatic missions presented to the Extraordinary Troika Summit of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation.
President Ramaphosa commended the efforts of the Panel of Elders, led by former Malawian President Joyce Banda, alongside the Mediation Reference Group and SADC Secretariat, for delivering a fact-based analysis of the situation in Madagascar. He emphasized SADC's ongoing commitment to supporting Madagascar's reform journey and highlighted the necessity of political reforms as a transitional process towards constitutional order and democratic elections within a specified timeframe.
The summit urged the Organ Troika to convene more frequently to monitor progress and decide on further actions as the reform process advances. A significant decision was to broaden the Panel of Elders' mandate to include facilitation and reconciliation roles, while the new SADC Liaison Office in Antananarivo will work closely with Malagasy authorities and other partners to coordinate regional support.
President Ramaphosa affirmed that these new mechanisms would ensure SADC's presence, responsiveness, and effectiveness throughout the transition. The summit also resolved to enhance oversight with quarterly reports to the SADC Secretariat, with any political deterioration or unmet milestones to be promptly addressed by the Organ Troika.
The President reiterated the call for the release of political prisoners, cessation of arbitrary arrests, and the return of political exiles, describing these actions as crucial for fostering trust and facilitating meaningful national dialogue. He urged all stakeholders in Madagascar, including the government, political parties, civil society, youth, women, and traditional leaders, to engage in the reform process earnestly and prioritize national interests over partisan issues.