South Africa outlines SADC chairpersonship priorities for 2026–2027
Ronald O. Lamola, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, accepted the SADC Chairpersonship for 2026–2027, emphasizing a collective responsibility guided by solidarity, unity, sovereign equality, and shared prosperity. Speaking in Durban, Minister Lamola highlighted South Africa's strategic priorities under President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa's leadership. These include promoting peace, security, and stability, accelerating industrialization through agricultural transformation, critical-minerals beneficiation, increased regional trade, and the development of regional value chains. The region holds significant critical mineral reserves, including 50 percent of the world's cobalt and 20 percent of its graphite. South Africa aims to achieve 50 percent intra-SADC trade and harness critical minerals for beneficiation at source. Other priorities involve expanding and modernizing regional infrastructure, such as energy, transport, ports, and digital networks, and strengthening social and human capital development, particularly given Africa's young population. These priorities will be underpinned by a focus on gender equality, climate resilience, and disaster-risk management. Minister Lamola also addressed migration, advocating for an orderly and lawful framework and calling on member states to sign the protocol on the free movement of people. He concluded by wishing Zambia peaceful and fair elections on August 13, 2026.
