The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was created in 1992. This block comprises 15 countries (South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). Its headquarters are located in Gaborone, Botswana.
The main objective of the African Development Community is to establish peace and security in the region. Through the integration of these countries, it is intended to achieve economic development, develop common policies, provide for the consolidation of historical, social and cultural ties between the peoples of the region.
SADC is a regional community that seeks to ensure economic well-being, improvements in the quality of life, freedom, social justice, peace and security for its population. All these aspects will be achieved through cooperation among member countries.
The region seeks economic development through factors such as the exploitation of natural resources, great energy potential (oil, coal, biomass, solar energy, wind energy), infrastructure, in addition to the vast population, providing labor and market consumer.
Seeking to create a common market, the Southern African Development Community is developing projects such as: Customs Union (UA), which will be developed in 2010; the Common Market (MC) for 2015; Monetary Union (MU), for 2016; and the implementation of a single currency in 2018.
By Wagner de Cerqueira and Francisco
Graduated in Geography