Lesotho has expressed its readiness to serve as Deputy Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, or as an incoming chair, with the country’s bid expected to be considered at the SADC Extra-Ordinary Summit scheduled for October 2026.
Speaking at a press conference in Maseru on Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Limpho Tau said Lesotho had formally indicated its interest in the position following the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Durban, South Africa.
Mr. Tau said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected SADC Chairperson at the Durban Summit, while the President of Zambia became Deputy Chairperson and King Mswati III of Eswatini became Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
He said the country that will become Deputy Chairperson of the Organ, or assume the incoming chair position, will be selected at the Extra-Ordinary Summit in October, adding that Lesotho is among the countries that have expressed readiness for the position, alongside Angola.
Mr. Tau said Lesotho had reminded SADC that it had gone for 12 years without serving at a senior leadership level in the regional body, arguing that the time had come for the country to be given an opportunity.
He said the outcome would be announced after the October Extra-Ordinary Summit.
Mr. Tau further said he had followed SADC accountability matters closely, having attended the 2024 SADC Summit and reviewed the 2025 documentation.
He said Lesotho had consistently been among the three to five member states that fully met their obligations.
He said SADC also supports Lesotho’s reform agenda and that the country had continued on this journey together with the regional organisation.
Mr. Tau said the communiqué issued at the conclusion of the SADC Summit remains the authoritative document reflecting the decisions taken by the regional body and should therefore be relied upon when reporting on the Summit.
Meanwhile, Director of Regional Integration in the Ministry of Finance and National Development, Mr. Tieho Molise, said Lesotho had no outstanding contributions to SADC, whether relating to its annual obligations or contributions required under special circumstances.
He said Lesotho contributes approximately US$2.4 million annually to SADC, with the amount having remained at around the same level for approximately five years.
Mr. Molise explained that while the annual contribution remains relatively stable, contributions required for special circumstances may vary depending on the prevailing situation.
The 46th SADC Summit, which was attended by Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane, focused on advancing regional integration and industrialisation, with infrastructure development, agricultural transformation and critical minerals identified as key drivers of the region’s economic development.
The Summit adopted the theme, “Resilient, Sustainable, and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World.”
Among other decisions, the Summit approved the SADC Tourism UNIVISA Agreement and called on member states to accelerate the signing and ratification of regional legal instruments to strengthen cooperation and integration.
Lesotho was also among the countries that signed the agreement amending Article 33 of the SADC Treaty, which strengthens measures concerning member states that remain in arrears with their SADC obligations.
The Summit was held in Durban, South Africa, and elected South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as the new SADC Chairperson, with Zambia designated as the incoming chair.
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