SADC Ministers Urged to Adopt Unified Strategy as Global Crises Intensify Economic Pressures on Southern Africa

“Together, we arrived at the conclusion that the resilience of our region, and indeed of our continent, was once again being tested by developments far beyond our borders,” Lamola said.

Southern African Development Community (SADC) Foreign Ministers have been urged to move beyond observation and adopt coordinated regional action to address the growing impact of global geopolitical instability, economic fragmentation, rising living costs, and external shocks affecting Southern African economies.

The call was made by South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, during the opening of the SADC Ministers of Foreign Affairs Retreat being held in Skukuza, within the iconic Kruger National Park. The high-level retreat has brought together regional foreign ministers and policymakers to discuss the future of Southern Africa amid rapidly changing global political and economic conditions.

Set against the natural landscape of one of Africa's most celebrated wildlife reserves, the retreat combines strategic diplomacy with broader reflection on the region's shared future. Early morning mist along the Sabie River and the surrounding wilderness of Kruger National Park formed a symbolic backdrop for discussions centred on regional resilience, cooperation, and economic survival in a turbulent global environment.

In his opening remarks, Lamola described the current global order as increasingly unstable and fragmented, warning that Southern Africa is already experiencing the consequences of geopolitical competition and shifting global power dynamics.

"The international system is undergoing profound transformation as it transitions towards a more multipolar order, marked by intensified geopolitical competition, economic fragmentation, technological rivalry and growing uncertainty surrounding global peace, security and development cooperation," Lamola stated.

He explained that unlike previous global eras dominated by one or two major power centres, today's international landscape is shaped by multiple competing powers influencing economic, political, technological, and strategic domains simultaneously.

"Unlike previous eras dominated by a single or bipolar power structure, today's geopolitical landscape is characterised by multiple centres of power competing across economic, political, technological and strategic domains," he said.

According to Lamola, these global tensions are increasingly disrupting international supply chains, altering investment patterns, intensifying competition over strategic resources, and weakening multilateral cooperation mechanisms that developing regions such as Southern Africa rely upon.

The Minister noted that SADC member states are facing a combination of interconnected pressures, including inflation, energy insecurity, rising food prices, strained public finances, and climate-related vulnerabilities. He said the retreat was convened because Southern African countries can no longer afford to respond to these challenges individually.

Lamola reflected on earlier discussions held during the March SADC Council of Ministers meeting in Pretoria, where member states first recognised the need for a dedicated strategic retreat focused on understanding the implications of global geopolitical developments for the region.

"Together, we arrived at the conclusion that the resilience of our region, and indeed of our continent, was once again being tested by developments far beyond our borders," Lamola said.

He stressed that the retreat was founded on the belief that Southern Africa cannot remain passive while global powers reshape economic and geopolitical structures in ways that could undermine decades of progress in regional integration, industrialisation, infrastructure development, and food security.

"It was born out of the belief that we cannot afford to be passive observers while the decisions of the powerful reshape the global order in ways that risk reversing the gains we have recorded over decades," he added.

A major focus of the retreat is the development of coordinated strategies around infrastructure, industrialisation, trade, energy security, food systems, transport connectivity, and migration management — all of which Lamola described as deeply interconnected issues central to Southern Africa's future development.

Migration has emerged as one of the most sensitive and significant topics during the retreat, especially amid recent protests in South Africa related to illegal immigration and growing tensions surrounding undocumented migrants.

"One of the thematic areas of engagement is on the movement of goods and people. This discussion will also be taking place during a period where a wave of protests against illegal immigration is happening in South Africa, particularly against immigrants of African descent," Lamola said.

The South African minister reiterated that while the country supports regional mobility and African integration, attacks against foreign nationals remain unacceptable and unlawful.

"The South African government has condemned in the strongest terms any attacks against foreign nationals, and that no one has the power to take laws into their own hands; it is the responsibility of law enforcement to enforce the law, not private citizens," he said.

Lamola drew a distinction between migration as an important driver of regional development and irregular migration as a governance challenge requiring coordinated regional management.

"Migration itself is not a problem. The challenge facing South Africa is irregular migration," he explained.

He highlighted that South Africa remains among the SADC countries that have ratified regional and continental frameworks promoting the free movement of people, including the SADC Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons.

At the same time, Lamola called for a more comprehensive regional conversation around migration pressures, including economic inequalities, conflict, unemployment, and other "push and pull factors" driving migration across countries of origin, transit, and destination.

"These discussions must also include the principle of burden sharing, with proper attention given to countries of origin, transit and destination," he said.

The retreat is also examining broader issues related to energy cooperation, industrial policy, infrastructure investment, trade integration, debt management, and agricultural resilience. Ministers and experts are expected to develop a more unified SADC position on global geopolitical risks, economic resilience strategies, and long-term regional integration.

In one of the most striking moments of his address, Lamola quoted renowned development economist Carlos Lopes, challenging African leaders to actively shape the emerging global order rather than merely react to it.

"The current global disorder presents an opportunity for power to be exercised in new ways. But the window will not stay open forever. The rules will be rewritten. The only question is: will Africa be one of the authors?" Lamola said.

Observers say the retreat reflects a growing recognition among African regional organisations that stronger economic coordination, strategic autonomy, and resource-sharing mechanisms are essential for reducing vulnerability to global shocks and advancing sustainable development across the continent.

The SADC Foreign Ministers' Retreat is expected to continue through the weekend, with member states working toward a coordinated regional framework addressing geopolitical uncertainty, economic resilience, migration governance, and deeper Southern African integration.