Dealing with the root causes and challenges of irregular migration is a shared responsibility of all countries of the world. We approach our leadership of a regional bloc that is home to a quarter of Africa's population. The South African Development Community, the Southern African Development Community with a firm resolve to champion greater regional integration, industrialisation and trade. We want to increase trade amongst our countries so that our citizens can share in the prosperity of our region, and our economies are better prepared to absorb the shocks of unilateralism.

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During the 46th SADAC Summit, Eswatini assumed the chairmanship of the SADAC Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security Cooperation, TROICA, whose mandate is to promote peace and stability in the Southern African region. Through this responsibility, we will work closely with all member states to strengthen preventative diplomacy, enhance dialogue, and mediation. We believe that for SADAC to attain its vision 2050, we have to create a peaceful, competitive, and industrialized region that guarantees sustainable well-being and freedom for all our citizens. The African Union's Agenda 2063 and its aspiration to silence the guns reflect our continent's resolve to end conflict and to create the stable conditions required for sustainable growth.

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That is the tradition I bring to this podium, representing a nation staking its existence on the promise that shared rules faithfully observed remain humanity's best instrument for peace and prosperity. That tradition tests whether trust between nations, large and small, can be restored. Mr. President, restoring trust must begin with restoring respect: respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and equal dignity of every nation, regardless of its size, wealth, or military power. For smaller states such as Botswana, a rule-based international order is an essential safeguard. It assures us that international relations will be governed by the strength of agreed principles. Botswana believes that rules that bind only the weak are not rules, and principles applied selectively soon cease to command respect. That is why Botswana calls on this General Assembly, the Security Council, and every organ of the United Nations to recommit to dialogue as the first instrument of diplomacy. Botswana has sought to live by this principle as a host to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat through our contributions to regional mediation and election observation, and through our consistent commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes.

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To give substance to this vision, we have launched a historic process of inclusive national dialogue, bringing together all the vital forces of the nation young people, women, persons with disabilities, political parties, civil society, the armed forces and the private sector. We have established a clear timetable. Our goal is to hold free, transparent and universally accepted elections before the end of 2027. Mr. president, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, this platform speaking here at this rostrum also gives me the opportunity to express our gratitude to all our partners for the trust and support that they have provided and for the fraternal support of the Southern African Development Community, Sadc and the United Nations are going with standing with us hand in hand since the beginning of the refoundation process.

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Lesotho has restored national peace and security following successive episodes of political and security unrest. With the support of the United Nations, the African Union, SADC and other friendly nations, we have reclaimed our rightful place among the comity of nations as a stable and peaceful country. We therefore attest that preventative diplomacy remains the most effective means of avoiding conflict and ensuring sustainable peace. To create an environment conducive to inclusive growth and development, we continue to advance constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening democratic governance and the rule of law. We remain committed to accountability, professionalism and respect for human rights for all sectors of society. We recognize that culture of peace requires strong institutions that negate violence in all its forms. An independent judiciary capable of delivering justice impartially and efficiently to restore public trust. Mr. president, we must acknowledge that climate change is no longer a future threat, but the present reality.

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In Cabo Delgado, we have made progress in fighting terrorism and strengthening security. Thanks to the efforts of the Defense and Security and the support of SADEC, the European Union, Rwanda, and Tanzania. However, the stabilization remains incomplete and requires a concentrated response and greater international cooperation for the fight against terrorism. We are grateful for the solidarity we have received, and we call for more predictable and coordinated international support to consolidate security, stabilization, reconstruction, and development in the affected areas, where the local force is still doing the work in the fight against terrorism.

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