Skukuza: Southern African Development Community (SADC) Foreign Ministers have been urged to move beyond observation and take coordinated action as global geopolitical shifts, rising costs of living, and external shocks continue to strain the region's economies. Delivering opening remarks at the SADC Ministers of Foreign Affairs Retreat at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Minister Ronald Lamola emphasized the need for 'urgent, coordinated and forward-looking' regional responses to an increasingly fragmented global order. According to South African Government News Agency, the retreat is being held in the heart of the iconic wildlife reserve, where early morning mist over the Sabie River and the distant calls of birds and wildlife provide a striking contrast to the high-stakes diplomatic discussions unfolding inside the Skukuza venue. Lamola noted that the setting was symbolic of a region shaped by shared geography, history, and interconnected futures. Lamola used his opening address to highlight the global environment as one in transition, warning that Southern Africa was being affected by forces far beyond its borders. He explained that the international system is undergoing a profound transformation, marked by shifting power dynamics and increasing instability. This shift is disrupting global supply chains and intensifying pressure on economies in the region. Lamola remarked, "Unlike previous eras dominated by a single or bipolar power structure, today's geopolitical landscape is characterized by multiple centres of power competing across economic, political, technological, and strategic domains." The retreat is not merely a diplomatic engagement but a response to a shared regional reality where member states face inflation, rising food prices, strained public finances, and energy insecurity. Lamola reflected on discussions held at the March SADC Council of Ministers meeting in Pretoria, where ministers first agreed on the need for a dedicated retreat to asses s global developments. At that time, member states had already acknowledged the growing impact of global shocks on the region's development agenda. Lamola stressed the urgency for SADC to adopt coordinated strategies to protect regional integration, industrialization, infrastructure development, and food security from external pressures. He emphasized, "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." A central focus of the retreat will be infrastructure, industrialization, trade, energy, food systems, and migration, which Lamola described as 'interconnected and central to the region's future.' He highlighted migration as a key area of discussion, especially as South Africa faces protests and public frustration linked to illegal immigration. Lamola reiterated South Africa's commitment to regional mobility frameworks while emphasizing that law enforceme nt must remain the sole authority responsible for dealing with immigration violations. Lamola called for broader regional reflection on migration pressures, including 'push and pull factors' across countries of origin, transit, and destination. He urged ministers to approach the retreat with honesty, creativity, and strategic ambition, warning that the current global moment presents both risks and opportunities for Africa. Quoting development economist Carlos Lopes, Lamola said, "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?" The retreat continues over the weekend in Skukuza, with ministers expected to translate the discussions into a coordinated SADC position on geopolitical risks, economic resilience, and regional integration.