JUST ELECTED as a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar – bringing the community membership back up to 14 countries after the withdrawal of the Seychelles in 2004, according to Niel Joubert, a Trade Law Centre of Southern Africa (tralac) researcher. Madagascar’s acccession was officially approved at the SADC summit of heads of state and government held in Gaborone recently. The island had been awarded candidate membership status at the 2004 summit in Mauritius and has now fulfilled all the necessary requirements for joining. The move has been welcomed by the country’s private sector due to the increased opportunities for business with other SADC countries, particularly South Africa.
