The SADC Declaration and the Treaty define the SADC Vision as that of a SHARED FUTURE in an environment of peace, security and stability, regional cooperation and integration based on equity, mutual benefit and solidarity. In addition to the SADC Treaty, SADC is committed to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the Protocol Establishing the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.
In order to achieve a shared future and its commitments to international charters and protocols, SADC Heads of State and Government established the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation in June 1996. In 2001, Member States signed the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. In 2004, the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO) was established as an enabling instrument for the implementation of the goals and objectives outlined in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The first version of the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ covered 2004-2009. The updated revision- The Harmonised Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO II)- covers the period 2010-2015.
Despite a number of successes in the area of politics, defence and security in recent years, SADC continues to face a number of political, economic and social challenges, primarily:
- Economic underdevelopment and poverty;
- The HIV and AIDS pandemic;
- Inter and intra state conflicts;
- Consolidation of democracy and good governance;
- Refugees, irregular movers, illegal migrants and internally displaced persons;
- The need to redress imbalances in the accessibility to natural resources and wealth;
- The demobilisation, disarmament, reintegration and monitoring of ex-combatants;
- The development and consolidation of regional disaster management mechanisms; and
The existing strategies and plans in place to achieve SADC’s goals related to politics, defence and security in the region are discussed under the major Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO II) headings as follows:
- Harmonised Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO II)
- The Mutal Defence Pact 2003
- SADC Treaty
- SADC Policy and Analysis Programme