President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern reminder to the South African government over the recurring xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals, stating that the freedom currently enjoyed by South Africa was paved by the sacrifices of Nigeria and other sister nations.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the President described the targeted violence as a “betrayal of the African spirit.”
The President’s address comes amid a worsening security situation that has forced the Nigerian government to evacuate more than 1,490 citizens in seven separate batches to ensure their safety
In an unusually blunt diplomatic message, President Tinubu invoked the history of the anti-apartheid struggle, reminding Pretoria of Nigeria’s role as a “Frontline State” that provided financial, diplomatic, and moral support to the African National Congress (ANC) and South African liberation fighters for decades.
“South Africa should be reminded that the freedom it currently enjoys is the result of the sacrifices and liberation efforts of African countries, including Nigeria,” the President said. “Nigeria condemns, in the strongest terms, the recent attacks on its citizens and other Africans. This violence is unacceptable and goes against the principles of regional integration and brotherhood.”
The Nigerian leader threw his weight behind a proposal by Ghana for ECOWAS to take a unified stand. He urged the regional bloc to formally present the matter at the next African Union (AU) Summit, arguing that xenophobia is a continental threat that requires a continental response.
“Africa must speak with one voice against xenophobia,” he asserted, adding that African leaders must move beyond rhetoric to ensure that the rights and lives of migrants are protected across the continent.
While addressing the specific crisis in South Africa, President Tinubu also used the summit to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to West African stability. He pledged Nigeria’s full support for the proposed ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Force, emphasizing that intelligence sharing and joint security operations are vital to defeating the insurgency currently plaguing the Sahel.
He further highlighted that true African unity must be built on the foundations of trade, infrastructure, and digital transformation, rather than the “fragmentation and fear” caused by xenophobic sentiments.
The evacuation of 1,490 Nigerians highlights the scale of the current tension. Since the latest wave of attacks began, Nigerian businesses in South African cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria have reportedly been looted, leading to a diplomatic cooling between the two largest economies on the continent.
Observers at the Freetown summit noted that Tinubu’s speech reflects a more assertive Nigerian foreign policy—one that demands reciprocity for Nigeria’s historical and current contributions to the continent’s development.
