Malawi SADC Approves Joyce Banda To Lead High-Level Peace Mission To Madagascar

By Smile Hamilton

The Extraordinary Summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government has approved the appointment of Malawi’s fourth President, Dr Joyce Banda, to lead a high-level peace mission to Madagascar by March 2026.

The decision was made during a virtual extraordinary summit held on December 17, 2025, where leaders received a report from the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, who is also President of Malawi. The report followed a Technical Fact-Finding Mission to Madagascar conducted from October 19 to 26, 2025, which assessed the country’s political and security situation through consultations with various stakeholders.

The summit welcomed the restoration of calm in Madagascar and reaffirmed SADC’s commitment to remain engaged with the country’s political and security developments until an elected government is established through credible electoral processes.

As part of this engagement, the summit approved the deployment of the SADC Panel of Elders by March 2026, to be led by Dr Banda, together with the Mediation Reference Group and supported by the SADC Secretariat. The mission will facilitate and support ongoing efforts to restore political stability, democracy and lasting peace in Madagascar.

The summit noted that Dr Banda’s experience is expected to positively contribute to the region’s firm stance on protecting constitutional rule and democratic governance, and to efforts aimed at restoring peace, constitutional order and democracy in Madagascar.

SADC leaders further expressed appreciation to President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, in his role as Chairperson of the Organ, for his leadership in consolidating peace and security in both Madagascar and the wider SADC region.

Dr Banda’s approval comes just days after she was appointed Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Global Fairness Initiative, a United States-based international non-governmental organisation that works to uplift poor communities across the world. The organisation was founded by Karen Tramontano, with former United States President Bill Clinton serving as its founding chair.

Within the space of a month, the former Malawi leader has received three international appointments, underscoring her growing role in global peacebuilding and development initiatives.