President Praised for Leadership During Madagascar Crisis

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa for his steady leadership during the region's interim period following disturbances in Madagascar. Speaking at the official opening of the 46th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Durban, South Africa, Ramaphosa acknowledged Mnangagwa's role as the outgoing SADC Chairperson.

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Your stewardship during this interim period ensured that SADC remained focused on peace, stability and regional integration.

"Your stewardship during this interim period ensured that SADC remained focused on peace, stability and regional integration," President Ramaphosa stated as he officially assumed the SADC Chairmanship from President Mnangagwa. South Africa had been holding the position on an interim basis, sharing responsibilities with Zimbabwe. The summit's theme is "Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World."

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We commend His Excellency President Mnangagwa for the manner in which he steered SADC, particularly during the interim period following the situation in Madagascar.

Echoing these sentiments, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf also commended President Mnangagwa's leadership. Youssouf described Mnangagwa's guidance as "firm and visionary" during a particularly challenging time for the region. "We commend His Excellency President Mnangagwa for the manner in which he steered SADC, particularly during the interim period following the situation in Madagascar," Youssouf said, adding that Mnangagwa ensured "the principles of solidarity, peace and integration remained at the centre of our regional agenda."

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He ensured that the principles of solidarity, peace and integration remained at the centre of our regional agenda.