Madagascar joins SADC while Rwanda fails

Ramsamy told Mmegi that Madagascar was yesterday welcomed to SADC in a move that demonstrates the deepening of regional integration. “It shows that the bloc is improving its economic strength. Madagascar is coming with a huge market potential. The advantages are enormous,” he said. Madagascar has a population of over 17 million and is a renown coffee exporter.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Serwalo Tumelo said it is a welcome development for SADC to increase the number of its member states. “We want to have a wide development community, “ he said. Currently, SADC has 14 member states with the coming of Madagascar after the departure of Seychelles last year.


Madagascar has become the newest member of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). However, outgoing SADC executive secretary, Dr. Prega Ramsamy said yesterday that the organisation has rejected Rwanda’s application to become a SADC member.

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