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SADC elects Lesotho to chair its security organ

Published

Southern African leaders chose Lesotho as incoming chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation at a virtual extraordinary summit on Wednesday. SADC chairperson Cyril Ramaphosa called for solutions to conflicts in the DRC and Mozambique.

Ramaphosa, who is also President of South Africa, said the work of the security organ remains indispensable for economic development and regional integration. He said Lesotho will make a valuable contribution to advancing the work of the organ.

Ramaphosa said the situation in the Eastern DRC is far from over and remains a matter of serious concern. He also urged solutions to the conflict in northern Mozambique.

He asked members to act on climate-related disasters, which he said are becoming a persistent threat to economic and social progress. He said: "Climate-related disasters are no longer occasional disruptions to our development."

Key facts

Who
Cyril Ramaphosa (SADC Chairperson and President of South Africa); Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane (Lesotho Prime Minister, elected incoming Chairperson of the SADC Organ on…); Treasure Thembisile Maphanga (Eswatini executive, approved as SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional…); Angèle Makombo N'Tumba (outgoing SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration)
What
At a virtual extraordinary summit, SADC elected Lesotho as incoming chair of its Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. SADC chair Cyril Ramaphosa stressed the organ's importance and called for solutions to conflicts in the DRC and Mozambique and for action on climate-related disasters.
When
21 October 2026
Where
Lesotho, Democratic Republic of Angola, DRC
Status
Reported

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