-Says attacks undermine continental unity, demands urgent action
—Calls for issue to be placed on AU Ordinary Session agenda
—We’ve arrested 80 perpetrators of Afrophobia — SA Envoy counters
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Sunday formally reported the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa to the African Union (AU), warning that the incidents undermine the continent’s solidarity, unity, and peaceful coexistence.
Specifically, the President requested prompt collective action from continental leaders, including placing the matter on the agenda for the 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly scheduled for January 2027.
The Nigerian leader made the nation’s position known in a message delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola.
President Tinubu urged African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the safety, protection, and dignity of all African nationals.
“Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa,” the President stated.
“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.
“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 called for stronger continental efforts to combat xenophobia, stressing that dialogue, preventive diplomacy, and collective action remain essential to preserving African unity.
Reacting to the development, the South African Envoy to the AU defended Pretoria’s efforts to curb the violence, disclosing that security agencies have arrested over 80 perpetrators of Afrophobic attacks. The envoy reiterated South Africa’s commitment to the rule of law and the protection of all foreign nationals within its borders.
Security and Conflict Prevention
Addressing the wider security situation across the continent, President Tinubu backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical roadmap for strengthening conflict prevention, arguing that preventing conflicts is more sustainable than managing them after they erupt.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” he said.
The Nigerian leader warned that fragmented peace initiatives and increasing external interference—through foreign military forces, mercenaries, and private defence contractors—risk weakening the AU’s conflict prevention mechanisms and the principle of African ownership.
He further called on arms-producing and exporting countries to strengthen cooperation with African states to prevent weapons and ammunition from being diverted to terrorists and non-state armed groups.
While acknowledging that the AU has robust mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, the President noted that limited trust and inconsistent implementation continue to undermine their effectiveness.
“The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” he said, calling on member states to renew their commitment to collective responsibility.
Nigeria also backed sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations and the full operationalisation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to strengthen the continental body’s capacity to respond to crises.
President Tinubu urged African leaders to recommit to home-grown solutions and shared responsibility.
“Let us therefore renew our collective commitment to solidarity, cooperation, and shared responsibility as we build the Africa we want,” the President concluded.
