SADC Heads of State have extended former President Joyce Banda's mediation mandate as Head of the Panel of Elders in Madagascar.

Banda wrote on her Facebook page on Tuesday in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo that the tenure is until constitutional order is restored in the world's fourth largest island country.

"After successfully leading the SADC Panel of Elders shuttle diplomacy missions and consolidation of engagements to reinstate SADC presence, interventions and support the ongoing processes in Madagascar, it pleased the Heads of State Summit to extend my mandate until constitutional order is restored," she said.

She will continue to lead the SADC mediation delegations deployed to the country following the political unrest and military transition.

The former Malawi leader engages Madagascar's transitional authorities, civil society, and national stakeholders to de-escalate tensions, build consensus, and guide the country toward constitutional order and democratic elections.

The October 2025 political crisis and military coup in Madagascar were driven by a combination of severe public service failures, deep economic hardship, and a youth-led anti-government movement.

Mass protests began on September 25, 2025, triggered by chronic, widespread electricity and water outages caused by failures of the state-owned utility company, Jirama.

Roughly 75% to 80% of Madagascar's 30 million citizens lived on less than $2.15 a day amid rising food inflation and high unemployment. Citizens grew increasingly furious over systemic government corruption, the perceived luxury lifestyles of political elites, and a broken social contract while basic infrastructure crumbled.

A decentralized, youth-driven movement (known as Gen Z Mada) mobilized via social media across multiple cities, demanding fundamental economic reform and the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina.