South Africa today, 17 August 2011, assumed the chairship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Troika, on the second day of the 31st Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Luanda, Angola.
President Zuma arrived in Angola yesterday to attend the summit. He said South Africa was particularly honoured and privileged to lead the SADC Troika and that the country would build on the good work done by the previous, chairperson, Zambia.
The Troika comprises South Africa, Zambia and Angola. ‘We are going to continue taking critical steps of creating conditions for peace, stability and good neighbourliness, as a prerequisite for regional economic integration. As the SADC Organ Troika chairperson and the whole Troika, we will continue to render whatever assistance and support necessary to the people of Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Lesotho, as well as to support the post-conflict reconstruction efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’’, said President Zuma. SADC is important to South Africa as a vehicle of regional unity, development and integration.
South Africa is one of 15 member states of SADC which also include Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Madagascar is currently suspended pending the restoration of constitutional and democratic order in that country.
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Zanele Mngadi
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Source: The Presidency
President Zuma to assume chair of SADC Organ
