# SADC regional leadership and security summits

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sadc-regional-leadership-and-security-summits
> Updated: 2026-08-16T16:54:13.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

During a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Durban, South Africa officially assumed the SADC Chairpersonship for the 2026–2027 term. South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola described the role as a “collective responsibility” intended to promote regional solidarity.

In a related leadership transition, the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation held a Troika Summit where Malawi transferred its chairship to Eswatini. Discussions at the summit focused on regional security and democratic governance, specifically addressing the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, political developments in Madagascar, and the need for national dialogue in Mozambique to resolve post-election violence.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-16: SADC Organ Troika Summit transfers chairship from Malawi to Eswatini

Malawi has handed the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation chairship to Eswatini, following a summit in Durban focused on regional peace, stability, and democratic governance.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sadc-organ-troika-summit-transfers-chairship-from-malawi-to-eswatini

### 2026-08-14: South Africa assumes SADC leadership amid Zimbabwe term extension debate

South Africa has assumed the SADC Chairpersonship for 2026–2027, while Zimbabwe defends a constitutional amendment to extend presidential terms and shift to parliamentary selection.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-africa-assumes-sadc-leadership-amid-zimbabwe-term-extension-debate

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Cite as: SADC regional leadership and security summits. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sadc-regional-leadership-and-security-summits