Sadc to discuss DRC, Madagascar

Malawi President Joyce Banda left the country for Windhoek, Namibia on Wednesday to attend an extraordinary Troika summit of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) which is expected to discuss the volatile security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the political state of affairs in Madagascar.

Banda, who is chairperson of Sadc, said the Troika, a Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security currently under the chairmanship of Namibia President Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba, will look into a report by leaders of Africa’s Great Lakes countries on escalating security situation and possibility of holding peaceful discussions between the DRC government and the M23 rebels.

Speaking before departure at Chileka International Airport in Blantyre, Banda expressed optimism that both sides will take part in the possible discussions as they have already shown interest on the same.

Leaders in Africa’s Great Lakes region that includes Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan and the DRC, discussed in Kampala, Uganda last week the volatile security situation in the DRC calling on both government and the M23 to resume peace talks within three days following increased fighting.

On the political situation in Madagascar, Banda said the Troika, which is holding its first meeting since she took over the leadership of the regional bloc, will deliberate of the possibility of holding peaceful elections following the disqualifications of all the candidates competing for the presidency by the courts. She said: “We agreed with the Madagascar coup leader [Andry Rajoelina] not to contest in the election, but surprisingly he is fielding his wife, Lalao, to the dismay of the deposed president [Marc Ravalomanana].”

Sadc compromised with both Rajoelina and Ravalomanana in January not to contest in the election that was initially planned for May 2013.