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South Africa's government is pressing for continent-wide discussions on migration at the African Union, after successfully blocking a bid by Ghana to put the country's xenophobic attacks on the AU's mid-year agenda. The move reflects a broader strategy to address what officials describe as the root causes of migration across the continent.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the story, Africa News and AllAfrica both detail the diplomatic maneuvering ahead of the AU's Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, scheduled for October in Alamein, Egypt. According to AllAfrica, Ghana raised the issue of xenophobic attacks in South Africa during an AU Executive Council meeting of foreign ministers in Addis Ababa. South Africa, however, pushed back, advocating instead for a summit on continental migration patterns.

Africa News frames the development as South Africa's effort to address the migration crisis, noting that the government is insisting that the problem is not solely a South African phenomenon. The outlet quotes Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola as saying that while South Africa is one of the highest receiving countries on the continent, the issue needs to be discussed in a broader continental context.

AllAfrica, on the other hand, emphasizes South Africa's role in thwarting Ghana's proposal, using language such as "foiled" and "pushed back" to describe the diplomatic outcome. The outlet also notes that Ghana has been a vocal critic of anti-immigrant protests and attacks in South Africa, and that it has repatriated several hundred of its citizens from the country.

Key Claims

  • South Africa foiled Ghana's bid to place xenophobic attacks on the AU mid-year agenda, pushing instead for a continent-wide migration summit, as reported by both Africa News and AllAfrica.
  • Ghana raised the issue during an AU Executive Council meeting in Addis Ababa, according to AllAfrica.
  • Ronald Lamola argued for a broader discussion on continental migration patterns, a position carried by both outlets.
  • Ghana repatriated several hundred of its citizens from South Africa, as stated by AllAfrica.
  • South Africa is cooperating with the African People's Human Rights Commission, and the commission will visit South Africa to discuss the migration issue, as reported by Africa News.
Lamola, as quoted by Africa News, said, "It's not a South African phenomenon. What we are disagreeing with is to isolate it and make it a South Africa phenomenon, particularly through the intervention of Ghana. When you look at it, it's that because we are one of the highest receiving countries in the continent, therefore, we end up being the ones that are mostly discussed."

He also said authorities are taking the criticism seriously and are cooperating with the African People's Human Rights Commission on the matter. "They will also be soon visiting South Africa and we will be responding/cooperating with them with regards to this issue that is on the table, which is the appropriate organ of the AU," he said.

The African Union rejected Ghana's proposition to add South Africa's migration tensions to the agenda of its next meeting, according to Africa News. AllAfrica reports that the Executive Council turned down Ghana's proposal, meaning South Africa will not be under the spotlight at the mid-year meeting.