One region, 16 nations, towards a common future

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was founded as the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) in 1980.

It was transformed into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on 17th August, 1992 and consists of 16 Member States, namely; Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The SADC vision is one of a common future, within a regional community that will ensure economic well-being, improvement of the standard of living and quality of life, freedom and social justice, peace and security for the peoples of Southern Africa.

This shared vision is anchored on common values and principles and the historical and cultural affinities that exist amongst the peoples of Southern Africa.

SADC Treaty

The Southern African Development Coordinating Conference (SADCC), established on 1 April 1980 was the precursor of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The SADCC was transformed into the SADC on 17 August 1992 in Windhoek, Namibia where the SADC Treaty was adopted, redefining the basis of cooperation among Member States from a loose association into a legally binding arrangement.

Key Strategic Documents

SADC has a number of strategic documents guiding the implementation of its regional integration and development agenda.

These strategic documents, among others, include; the revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), revised Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ on Defense, Politics and Security (SIPO II), SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP) and SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063.

Other SADC policies, strategies, frameworks and protocols can be accessed from the SADC Website www.sadc.int

SADC mission

The SADC Mission is to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and socio-economic development through efficient productive systems, deeper co-operation 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.

SADC objectives

The main objectives of SADC are to achieve development, peace and security, economic growth, to alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of the peoples of Southern Africa, and support the socially disadvantaged through integration, built on democratic principles and equitable and sustainable development.

SADC Member States

•     Republic of Angola (Natural resources: Oil, Diamonds, Fish, Minerals and Marine Resources)

•     Republic of Botswana (Natural resources: Diamonds, Copper, Nickel, and Wildlife)

•     Union of Comoros (Natural resources: Water and Forests)

•     Democratic Republic of Congo (Natural resources: Cacao, Cassiterite, Cobalt, Coltan, Copper, Crude Oil, Diamond, Gold, Oil, Palm Oil, Plomb, Quinquina, Rubber, Timber, Uranium, Wood and Zinc)

•     Kingdom of Eswatini (Natural resources: Mines)

•     Kingdom of Lesotho (Natural resources: Water and Diamonds)

•     Republic of Madagascar (Natural resources: Graphite, Chromite, Coal, Mica, Bauxite Semi-Precious Stones, Fisheries, Rare Earth Elements, Salt, Quartz and Tar Sands)

•     Republic of Malawi (Natural resources:  Wildlife, Limestone, Coal and Unexploited Mineral Resources Including Uranium, Bauxite, Gemstones, and Niobium)

•     Republic of Mauritius (Natural resources: Fish and Water)

•     Republic of Mozambique (Natural resources: Wood, Aluminum, Gas, Heavy sands (areias pesadas) and Mineral coal)

•     Republic of Namibia (Natural resources: Diamonds, Copper, Uranium, Gold, Silver, Lead, Tin, Lithium, Cadmium, Tungsten, Zinc, Salt, Hydropower, (Suspected Deposits of Oil, Coal, and Iron Ore)

•     Republic of Seychelles (Natural resources: Ocean Products (Fish)  

•     Republic of South Africa (Natural resources: Gold, Coal, Platinum, Palladium, Copper, Manganese and Diamonds)

•     United Republic of Tanzania (Natural resources: Gold, Diamonds, Coal, Iron, Uranium, Nickel, Chrome, Tin, Platinum, Tanzanite, Oxides, Natural gas, Helium and Tourism)

•     Republic of Zambia (Natural resources: Minerals (Mainly Copper), Wildlife, Forestry, Natural Vegetation and Water)

•     Republic of Zimbabwe (Natural resources: Copper, Iron Ore, Vanadium, Lithium, Tin, Platinum and Group Metals)