In Antananarivo, Madagascar, on the sidelines of the 45th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi met with Melanie Higgins, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and Ambassador Howard Van Vranken, U.S. Ambassador to Botswana and Special Representative to SADC.
The meeting followed the inaugural SADC-USA Senior Officials Dialogue Forum held on 13 August 2025. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to sustained engagement and collaboration on issues including peace and security, economic development, trade, investment, health cooperation, and sustainable development.
Discussions emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships not only between the SADC Secretariat and the United States Government but also at a bilateral level with SADC Member States. Participants exchanged perspectives on priority areas and expressed determination to build on the momentum generated by the Dialogue Forum.
The inaugural forum provided a platform to refine cooperation frameworks, paving the way for stronger institutional ties and enhanced collaboration across multiple sectors. Both SADC and the United States committed to translating the forum’s outcomes into concrete actions that deliver mutual benefits for the people of the SADC region and the United States.
The meeting underscores the growing strategic partnership between SADC and the United States, highlighting shared goals in regional stability, sustainable development, and economic growth.
