(Seychelles News Agency) - The president of Seychelles has affirmed the island nation’s continued support of the collective effort of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in his maiden address at the summit of heads of states and governments, a communiqué from State House said on Sunday.

“As a proud member of our SADC family, we are wholeheartedly committed to the principles and values enshrined in our treaty,” said President Danny Faure at the official opening ceremony on Saturday.  

Faure, who is attending the summit the first time as the head of state, said, “As the new president, I am personally devoted to upholding these ideals throughout my tenure.”

The president is leading the delegation of Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, at the 37th SADC Summit of Heads of States and Governments being held in Pretoria, South Africa.

This year’s summit is under the theme “Partnering with the private sector in developing industry and regional value-chains.”

Faure highlighted numerous actions and efforts being implemented in Seychelles since he took office last October geared towards creating an atmosphere for greater social cohesion, inclusiveness and national unity through a process of genuine reconciliation.

He said that such efforts and actions are in the spirit of cultivating a stable and functioning state that fits Seychelles’ political diversity in its new era of cohabitation, with the aim of bringing lasting peace and stability in the country.

In the same spirit, Faure called on SADC to lend all its support to Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the ongoing efforts to bring back peace, stability and security to these two fellow countries.

The SADC member countries plan to discuss the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Lesotho during the summit.

Lesotho has been going through political chaos over the last five years and following the recent election, the new government is led by Prime Minister Tom Thabane for the second time in two years.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo since its independence in 1960 has not known peace, and its problems are an ongoing headache for both SADC and the African Union.

President Faure also stressed the importance of members states to focus on the SADC they envision for the future.

“We speak about the SADC we want. Yes, the SADC we want is one which is at peace with herself; a SADC which has economic opportunities for each and every one; where no citizen is left behind; where the value of freedom is translated in real living standards for all our citizens”

Faure added that “I recognize the great strides and impressive progress we have made as a region in the areas of peace and security, trade, and development.”

The president commended the SADC Secretariat for its critical role in the highlighted achievements and encouraged member states to continue on this collective path towards prosperity.

At the official opening ceremony, South African President Jacob Zuma assumed the SADC chairmanship from King Mswati III from Swaziland until August next year.