Occasional Paper

SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security : Future Development

“This paper does not question the decisions surrounding the creation of the Organ, nor the objectives that have been accepted for the Organ, although there are a number of serious problems and inconsistencies readily evident in both. It rather presents, very briefly, the macro-structure of SADC, before looking more closely at the future of the Organ measured against its aims and objectives. The paper includes various suggestions for the structuring of the Organ, including the replacement of the ISDSC Ministerial Committee with a new council at ministerial level, called the Political Cooperation Council. The establishment of an Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, accountable to the SADC Heads of State and Government is another proposal, together with the establishment of a small permanent multinational secretariat for the Organ.”