“The objectives of the Organ include: safeguarding the region against instability from within or outside its borders; promoting political co-operation and common political values and institutions (this
commits SADC to the promotion of democracy and an observance of human rights);
developing a common foreign policy and a joint international lobby on issues of
common interest (the SADC Treaty itself commits the organisation to “promote the
co-ordination and harmonisation of the international relations of Member States”);
security and defence co-operation through conflict prevention, management and
resolution; mediation of disputes and conflicts; preventive diplomacy and mechanisms, with punitive measures as a last resort (in other words, the possibility of enforcement actions as a last resort is explicitly recognised);sustainable peace and security through peacemaking and peacekeeping.”
