“In 1997, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) broke its self-imposed
moratorium on membership by inviting the newly-created Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC) and Seychelles as the 13th and 14th members. At the time there was speculation that Uganda and Kenya might also be invited to join. Now the Republic of Madagascar is believed to want membership. This raises a number of questions: First, what does Madagascar’s membership offer the SADC? Second, what are the costs and benefits of SADC membership? And third, how will this impact on bilateral relations between South Africa and Madagascar?”
