President Bola Tinubu has called on the African Union to take collective action over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa, particularly incidents affecting Nigerians and other African nationals.
Tinubu made the call through Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Luanda, Angola.
The President urged African leaders to place the issue on the agenda of the AU’s 40th Ordinary Session scheduled for January 2027, stressing that attacks against Africans undermine continental unity, solidarity and peaceful coexistence.
While acknowledging South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, Tinubu maintained that such enforcement must not lead to violence or discrimination against African nationals.
He called for stronger continental measures to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia through dialogue, preventive diplomacy and coordinated action.
The Federal Government’s position comes amid continuing concerns over the safety of Nigerians living, working and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa. Nigeria has repeatedly called for adequate protection of its citizens and accountability for perpetrators of attacks.
Tinubu’s intervention seeks to elevate the issue beyond a bilateral Nigeria-South Africa dispute and make the protection of Africans a broader continental concern requiring collective action.
The President also advocated stronger African-led solutions to the continent’s security challenges, including improved conflict prevention and greater collective responsibility among AU member states.
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