SANF 17 no 42 – by Kizito Sikuka in Pretoria, South Africa
The Union of Comoros is the newest member of the Southern African Development Community after regional leaders approved its application to join the organisation.
Comoros was formally admitted into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at the 37th SADC Summit held on 19-20 August in Pretoria, South Africa.
The admission of Comoros brings the membership of SADC to 16. The other 15 member states are Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“Summit admitted the Union of Comoros as a new member of SADC and noted that the assessment of Burundi is work in progress,” read part of the communique released after the summit.
The two countries – Comoros and Burundi – have for the past few years expressed interest in joining SADC, which is regarded as one of the most stable and attractive regional economic communities in Africa.
SADC chairperson, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa said the admission of a new member is an indication of the confidence shown in the regional organisation.
“As you are aware, this Summit coincides with the Silver Jubilee of SADC,” Zuma said. This marks 25 years since the signing of the Treaty in 1992 to transform the regional organization from a Coordination Conference to a Community.
“As we celebrate our Silver Jubilee, we saw an increase in membership of our Community when Summit decided to admit the Union of the Comoros, thus bringing the total membership of the SADC family to 16,” he said.
As per the requirements, various assessments were conducted by the Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation before the admission was made.
The newest member of SADC – Comoros – is an archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, off the eastern coast of Africa between north-eastern Mozambique and north-western Madagascar.
At 1,660 square kilometres in size, excluding the contested island of Mayotte which is claimed by France, the Comoros is the third smallest African nation by area, and has a population of about 798,000 people.
As a nation formed at a crossroads of different civilisations, the archipelago is noted for its diverse culture and history.
It consists of three major islands and numerous smaller ones, all in the volcanic Comoros archipelago.
It became part of the French colonial empire in the 19th century before becoming independent in 1975.
SADC – formerly the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) –was established on 1 April 1980 in Lusaka, Zambia when nine then independent states signed a Declaration titled “Southern Africa: Towards Economic Liberation”.
The main objectives of the Declaration were to reduce dependence, particularly on apartheid South Africa, as well as secure international understanding and support.
At the formation of the SADCC, the regional organisation consisted of Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Close cooperation among the member states has seen the region achieve a number of milestones aimed at advancing political freedom into broader socio-economic independence that ensures improved living standards for its people. sardc.net
