Initially scheduled to be held in Madagascar, the plenary assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum has been relocated to another country. This change in schedule occurs amidst a turbulent period for the National Assembly.
A last-minute change. Sources within the National Assembly confirm that the plenary assembly of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum, which was supposed to take place in Antananarivo from August 22 to 29, will no longer be held in Madagascar.
The event “is being relocated to another country.” At this stage, neither the new host country nor the date of the event has been specified, nor have the reasons for this decision been disclosed. The meeting was expected to bring together representatives from the parliaments of the regional organization’s member states and was to be chaired by Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, President of the National Assembly.
Several deputies contacted stated they were unaware of this change. The lower house had previously cited preparations for hosting this forum as the reason for not holding an extraordinary session, despite a decree to convene such a session having been adopted by the Council of Ministers in early July.
The relocation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum plenary assembly marks a new twist in the tense climate currently surrounding the Tsimbazaza institution. Since the publication of youth consultation resolutions in late July, which included calls for the dissolution of the National Assembly, the lower house has been at the center of a political storm, with Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko facing a wave of protests from Gen Z groups.
In response, a new parliamentary group has been formed by independent deputies and dissidents from the “Isika rehetra miaraka amin’i Andry Rajoelina” (Irmar) coalition to counter calls for dissolution. While deputies are highlighting their parliamentary activities, such as the commission of inquiry into Jirama’s problems, to deflect criticism, the link between the current political instability and the relocation of the SADC forum remains unconfirmed.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-20 05:53:34 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/assemblee-nationale-le-forum.html