PRESS RELEASE
SADC to hold 27th Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ to discuss issues aimed at promoting peace and security in the Region
18th July 2025, Gaborone, Botswana: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will hold the 27th Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation from 21-25 July 2025 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar-es-Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.
The 27th Ordinary MCO meeting will be chaired by Honourable Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo (MP.), Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the MCO.
In line with Article 5 of the SADC Protocol of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, the MCO is composed of Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Public Security and State Security from all SADC Member States and is mandated to coordinate the work of the SADC Organ of promoting peace and security in the region.
The SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation recognises that peace, security and political relations are critical factors in creating a conducive environment for regional cooperation and integration.
Among the key issues, the 27th MCO will review progress in the implementation of the decisions of the previous meetings of the MCO, Council of Ministers and Summit of Heads of State and Government, the political situation and consolidation of democracy and good governance in the SADC region.
The meeting of the MCO will be preceded by the meeting of Senior Officials from 21-
22 July 2025 to be chaired by Ambassador Dr. Samwel Shelukindo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania.
The Media is, therefore, invited to the Official Opening and Closing ceremonies of the MCO meeting at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam as indicated below.
• Opening Session of the meeting of Senior Officials: 21st July 2025 from 09:00Hours
• Opening Session of the meeting of the MCO: 24th July 2025 from 09:00Hours
• Closing Session of the meeting of the MCO: 25th July 2025 from 12:30Hours
Media enquiries,
1. Ms. Barbara Lopi, Head of Communication and Public Relations, email; blopi@sadc.int or Innocent Mbvundula, Communications and Relations Officer (External) email imbvundula@sadc.int with a copy to prinfo@sadc.int
2. Ms. Sheiba Bulu, Government Communication Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, United Republic of Tanzania. +255 754 812 872 Email:- sheiba.bulu@nje.go.tz
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SADC in Brief
SADC is a Regional Economic Community of 16 Member States established in 1980 as the Southern African Development Coordinating Conference (SADCC) and later, in August,1992 transformed into the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The mission of SADC is to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and socio-economic development through efficient, productive systems, deeper cooperation and integration, good governance and durable peace and security; so that the region emerges as a competitive and effective player in international relations and the world economy. Member States are Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.