Tinubu asks African Union to act on xenophobic attacks in South Africa

Nigeria takes xenophobia complaint to African Union

President Bola Tinubu has formally reported recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa to the African Union, warning that the incidents undermine the continent's solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence. The request for urgent collective action was delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, according to multiple reports.

In a message read on his behalf, Tinubu called on the AU to place the matter on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action. He 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 said in the message. "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."

Tinubu also called for stronger continental efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia, stressing that dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action remained essential to preserving African unity.

Escalation of diplomatic push

The intervention comes less than six weeks after Tinubu raised the matter before West African leaders, according to The Nation Newspaper. The report noted that the President acknowledged Pretoria's authority to regulate migration and enforce its laws, but stressed that immigration enforcement could not justify violence or attacks on African nationals.

The Nation also reported that tensions in South Africa escalated in June, when anti-immigrant groups staged demonstrations, including a June 30 march during which an unofficial deadline was reportedly issued for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country. Human Rights Watch reported in May that the latest wave of anti-immigrant activism involved vigilante groups, including Operation Dudula and March and March, the newspaper said. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights expressed grave concern over reports of xenophobic violence targeting nationals of other African countries, it added.

According to the Federal Government, 1,490 Nigerians were evacuated in seven coordinated flights between June 10 and July 15, The Nation reported. South Africa has repeatedly rejected suggestions that its government condones xenophobic violence, the newspaper said.

Broader security agenda

Beyond the South Africa issue, Tinubu used the Luanda summit to address wider continental security challenges. Nigeria backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical roadmap for strengthening conflict prevention, with the President arguing that conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management.

Tinubu 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 called on arms-producing and exporting countries to strengthen cooperation with African states to prevent weapons and ammunition from being diverted to terrorists and other non-state armed groups.

The President maintained that while the AU has robust mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, limited trust and inconsistent implementation continue to undermine their effectiveness. He also backed sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations and the full operationalisation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719, and urged African leaders to recommit themselves to home-grown solutions, stronger cooperation and shared responsibility in tackling the continent's security challenges.