The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has elected Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, as the incoming chairperson of its Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation.

The decision was made during an extraordinary virtual summit of SADC Heads of State and Government held on October 21, 2026, under the chairmanship of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The summit also approved the appointment of Eswatini’s Treasure Thembisile Maphanga as the new Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration.

Maphanga brings 30 years of experience in trade, industrial policy, digital economy, institutional reform and regional development. She is expected to support the implementation of SADC’s regional development priorities and strengthen economic cooperation among member states.

The summit also thanked outgoing Deputy Executive Secretary Angèle Makombo N’Tumba for her four years of service in advancing regional integration and socioeconomic development.

On disaster preparedness, the leaders called for stronger regional coordination and increased investment in resilience, particularly ahead of the anticipated impacts of the 2026–2027 El Niño and cyclone season in Southern Africa.

They also congratulated Mozambique’s President Daniel Francisco Chapo for hosting the inaugural International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in Africa in Maputo from October 13 to 15.

In his closing remarks, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed the importance of collective efforts to advance regional integration, peace, stability and sustainable development across Southern Africa.

He emphasized the importance of stronger coordination within the SADC Secretariat to speed up the implementation of regional programs and regularly report on progress and challenges.

He stressed that protecting lives, preventing displacement and maintaining peace must remain central to the bloc’s collective efforts, calling on member states to provide the necessary resources and take timely action to fulfill their commitments.

The South African president further urged the SADC Secretariat to advance regional integration priorities agreed upon at the bloc’s 46th Ordinary Summit.