Tinubu Reports South Africa Xenophobia To AU, Demands Action

President Bola Tinubu has reported recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa to the African Union (AU), calling for urgent continental action to protect the safety, dignity and rights of Africans across the continent.

Tinubu, who spoke through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU in Luanda, Angola, said attacks targeting Africans were at odds with the principles of solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence.

He urged the continental body to place the matter on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action by African leaders.

“Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa,” Tinubu said.

The President acknowledged South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and its contributions to the continent, but said these could not justify attacks against Africans and other nationals.

“While recognising South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and acknowledging its contributions to the continent, Nigeria stresses that such attacks undermine African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence, and require urgent collective attention,” he said.

Tinubu called on the AU and its member states to intensify efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia, stressing that dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action were necessary to preserve African unity.

“It is on this note that Nigeria calls on this august Assembly to place the matter on the agenda of the upcoming 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action,” he said.

The President’s intervention comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s longstanding concerns over attacks and hostility directed at Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.

Relations between Nigeria and South Africa have periodically come under strain over xenophobic attacks, particularly incidents involving foreign-owned businesses and African migrants.

Beyond the xenophobia issue, Tinubu backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical framework for strengthening conflict prevention and tackling the root causes of instability across Africa.

He said preventing conflicts was more sustainable and cost-effective than attempting to manage them after they had escalated.

“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” the President said.

He, however, cautioned that fragmented peace initiatives and increasing external involvement through foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors could weaken the AU’s conflict-prevention architecture.

Tinubu said excessive reliance on external actors also threatened the principle of African ownership of peace and security efforts.

“The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” he warned.

The President said although the AU had established mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, limited trust among member states and inconsistent implementation had continued to restrict their effectiveness.

He therefore urged African leaders to renew their commitment to collective responsibility and home-grown solutions in addressing security challenges confronting the continent.

Tinubu also called on countries that manufacture and export arms to strengthen cooperation with African states to prevent weapons and ammunition produced within their territories from being diverted to terrorists and other non-state armed groups.

He said tackling the illicit diversion of arms was essential to reducing terrorism, insurgency and other forms of armed violence across Africa.

Nigeria also supported sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations and the full operationalisation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, which provides a framework for strengthening support for AU-led peace support operations.

Tinubu urged African leaders to deepen cooperation and take greater collective responsibility for addressing conflicts and insecurity rather than relying excessively on outside intervention.

He said stronger continental institutions, better financing and greater political commitment were necessary to enable Africa to respond effectively to its security challenges.

“Let us therefore renew our collective commitment to solidarity, cooperation, and shared responsibility as we build the Africa we want,” the President said.