MASERU, Aug. 20 — Lesotho has missed an opportunity to become the in-coming chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation known as SADC Troika because of its slow progress on constitutional reforms.
Mr. Thapelo Mabote, Press Attache in the Prime Minister (PM)’s office said for this reason, the SADC Troika Secretariat recommended Angola to assume the chairmanship beginning in the year 2027-2028.
He also said Lesotho lodged a complaint, challenging the decision on the basis that it has dealt with the 10th amendment of the constitution, secondly, the occupying of positions within SADC is on rotational basis and it has been 11 years, but Angola on the other hand, has managed to secure SADC positions for a number of times, adding that the country has been struck off from the SADC agenda.
Mr. Mabote further said Lesotho and Angola were instructed to hold talks about the issue of the chairmanship but the discussion collapsed which led to the decision to take the matter to the extra-ordinary summit.
The SADC Troika is responsible for providing political direction on matters relating to peace, security and stability in the region.
Eswatini’s assumption of the Troika chairmanship had effectively been set up at the previous SADC Summit, when King Mswati III was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Organ, with Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera serving as Chairperson for the 2025/26 term. The arrangement positioned Eswatini to take over the chairmanship in 2026/27.
It takes over the responsibility at a time when SADC continues to grapple with political and security challenges in parts of the region, including the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar. The new chairmanship will therefore place it at the centre of regional efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts and promote political stability.
SADC commended Lesotho for progress in its peace-building and reform efforts. The regional body had previously removed Lesotho from the Organ Troika agenda following what it described as positive progress in the country’s political and security situation.
The SADC Troika operates on an annual rotation, with the chairperson, incoming chairperson and outgoing chairperson working together to ensure continuity in the organisation’s peace and security agenda.
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