South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola has warned that escalating global geopolitical tensions are already impacting food and energy markets, potentially driving up costs across Southern Africa.

Addressing the Council of Ministers of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Pretoria, Lamola pointed to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran as a source of economic pressure. 

"The current geopolitical climate, including the United States and Israel's war on Iran and Iran's retaliation, is already sending shockwaves through our societies," Lamola said. "Beyond the immediate impact of rising global oil prices, a spike in fertilizer costs is set to drive food prices up and further compromise food security across many of our countries."

The Middle East conflict began in late February when coordinated US and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military and strategic sites, prompting Iranian missile and drone retaliation across the region, with wider impacts on energy markets and global supply chains.

Lamola said many Southern African states are facing these external shocks while still recovering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and carrying high debt burdens. 

He stressed that deeper regional cooperation and industrialization are essential to building more resilient economies and supporting the region's more than 380 million people.