MBABANE: Eswatini has started a government wide induction programme to prepare ministries, departments and institutions for the country’s responsibilities as Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Senator Pholile Shakantu met with a delegation from the SADC Secretariat as the programme got underway.
The SADC delegation was led by Professor Ishmael Kula Theletsane, Director of the Organ, and included Barbara Lopi, Head of the Public Relations Unit, and Terry Rose, Senior Officer responsible for Politics and Diplomacy. 
The induction programme is taking place from September 8 to 10, 2026, bringing together government institutions whose mandates are connected to regional peace, security, governance and stability.
The participating institutions include those responsible for foreign affairs, defence, state security, public security, policing, immigration, corrections, anti corruption, refugees, parks and wildlife, counter terrorism, as well as Women, Peace and Security.
The meeting between Shakantu and the SADC delegation provided an opportunity to review the responsibilities arising from Eswatini’s chairship and prepare institutions for the work ahead.
“The Kingdom of Eswatini accepts this responsibility with humility and a clear appreciation of the confidence placed in His Majesty King Mswati III and the Government by the SADC region. Our Chairship must be approached as a coordinated national undertaking. Every participating institution must understand its responsibilities, maintain the required level of readiness and contribute effectively to the peace, security and democratic stability of our region,” said Shakantu.
During the induction, government institutions are engaging directly with SADC experts on the mandate and working methods of the Organ.
The sessions cover the preparation and conduct of regional meetings, implementation of SADC decisions, management of sensitive information and the logistical and communication standards expected of Eswatini as Chair.
Eswatini will be responsible for chairing and hosting meetings across the Organ’s political, diplomatic and security structures during its tenure.
These will include meetings of the Organ Troika, the Ministerial Committee of the Organ, the Inter State Politics and Diplomacy Committee and the Inter State Defence and Security Committee.
The country will also work with relevant defence, state security, public security and Police and SARPCCO structures.
The chairship will cover several sector specific areas, including migration and immigration, refugees, corrections and prisons, anti corruption, parks and wildlife, regional counter terrorism cooperation, conflict prevention, mediation, electoral observation and the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Eswatini will also take on specific operational responsibilities as part of its regional role.
In 2027, the Kingdom is expected to lead the SADC Electoral Observation Mission to Angola during that country’s general elections.
Eswatini will also head the SADC Liaison Office that is expected to be established in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The office will support SADC’s engagement in Madagascar and facilitate coordination between the authorities of Madagascar, the SADC Secretariat and the Chairperson of the Organ.
Shakantu said the responsibilities attached to the chairship required Eswatini to remain prepared to respond to developments affecting the region.
“These responsibilities demonstrate that the Chairship is not ceremonial,” Honourable Shakantu said. “It requires vigilance, sound diplomacy, institutional coordination and the ability to respond promptly to developments affecting peace, constitutional order and security within our region.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, through the Organ National Contact Point, will provide the central coordination link between the Government of Eswatini and the SADC Secretariat.
Participating institutions are expected to designate appropriately empowered focal persons, prepare coordinated national positions, identify capacity and resource requirements and ensure that regional decisions are followed through to implementation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued the media statement on September 8, 2026.
“The success of Eswatini’s Chairship will ultimately be measured by the quality of our leadership, the discipline of our coordination and the contribution we make towards a more peaceful, secure and stable Southern African region,” concluded Honourable Shakantu.
