Mbabane – History appears to be repeating itself for His Majesty King Mswati III as he takes charge of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation while Madagascar once again finds itself at the centre of a regional constitutional crisis.
The King was elected Chairperson of the SADC Organ at the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit held in Durban, South Africa, on August 17, 2026.
He took over the regional security portfolio from Malawi, placing him at the centre of SADC efforts to promote peace, political stability, constitutional order and security in the region.
historical
In 2009, King Mswati III was also Chairperson of the SADC Organ when Madagascar was plunged into a political crisis following the removal of then President Marc Ravalomanana and the rise of Andry Rajoelina.
strongly
An extraordinary SADC Summit chaired by the King was held at Lozitha Royal Palace on March 30, 2009, with the political and security situation in Madagascar among the major issues discussed.
The regional bloc condemned the unconstitutional change of government, refused to recognise Rajoelina as president and suspended Madagascar from SADC institutions until constitutional order was restored.
More than 17 years later, Madagascar is again facing political uncertainty, this time after a military-backed transition that brought Colonel Michael Randrianirina to power in October 2025.
Randrianirina attended the 46th SADC Summit in Durban, where Madagascar’s political situation featured among the regional body’s concerns.
engagement rather than isolation
The regional bloc reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Madagascar’s reform and development process, including inclusive governance, democratic institutions, accountability, human rights, citizen participation and a return to constitutional normality.
Involvement
At Lozitha in February 2026, King Mswati III called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order in Madagascar.
The King said that where a Head of State had been removed unconstitutionally, the leader had the right to be heard before any action was taken, in line with SADC principles.
This placed the King at the centre of the Madagascar issue months before he formally assumed the chairmanship of the SADC Organ.
The situation became particularly significant after the King met Rajoelina, who was then out of power, at the King’s official office in Eswatini.
The meeting drew criticism from Madagascar’s transitional authorities, but the King’s office maintained that he was acting as a facilitator in regional diplomacy and had consulted SADC.
Responsibility
The SADC Panel of Elders undertook three missions to Madagascar between January and May this year as part of efforts to promote dialogue and reconciliation.
The current crisis is also politically significant because Rajoelina, who was at the centre of Madagascar’s 2009 crisis, was elected SADC Chairperson at the 45th Summit in August 2025.
However, the political landscape changed dramatically after the transition that brought Randrianirina to power.
Now, with King Mswati III heading the SADC Organ responsible for politics, defence and security, Madagascar once again presents one of the region’s most delicate political challenges.
The Organ’s mandate covers regional peace, security, political stability and conflict management.
It also comes as SADC continues to deal with other security challenges, particularly the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
For the King, therefore, the new chairmanship is more than a regional leadership position.
It puts him at the head of the very SADC structure through which he helped lead the regional response to Madagascar’s previous constitutional crisis.
The question now is whether history will repeat itself or whether the King, this time, will help guide Madagascar towards a different outcome.
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