Tinubu takes South Africa xenophobic attacks against Nigerians to AU

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the African Union (AU) to take urgent action on recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa.

Tinubu made the demand in a message delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, on Sunday.

The summit focused largely on strengthening Africa’s capacity for conflict prevention and resolution, improving early-warning mechanisms and reinforcing the principle of African ownership of the continent’s peace and security challenges.

However, Nigeria used the high-level gathering to raise concerns over the treatment of Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa, asking the continental body to give the matter formal consideration.

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

The President acknowledged South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and recognised the country’s contributions to the continent.

He, however, warned that attacks against foreign nationals undermine the principles of African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence and require a collective response.

“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 consequently asked the AU Assembly to place the issue on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session, scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action.

“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 declared.

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The latest move represents a further escalation of Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts to address xenophobic attacks in South Africa, particularly those affecting Nigerians and other African migrants.

Nigeria has previously raised concerns with South African authorities over attacks and anti-foreigner sentiments. The Nigerian government has consistently maintained that concerns over immigration enforcement should not result in violence, discrimination or attacks against African nationals.

Tinubu’s decision to take the matter before the AU effectively broadens the issue from a bilateral dispute between Nigeria and South Africa into a wider continental concern involving the safety and dignity of African citizens across national borders.

The issue is particularly significant given the longstanding political, economic and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and South Africa, two of Africa’s most influential countries.

Beyond the South Africa issue, Tinubu used the summit to call for stronger African ownership of the continent’s peace and security agenda.

Nigeria backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a roadmap for strengthening conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms across Africa.

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

He warned that fragmented peace initiatives and increasing dependence on foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors could weaken Africa’s ability to manage its own security challenges.

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

Tinubu called on African governments to strengthen their commitment to home-grown solutions, preventive diplomacy and collective responsibility rather than relying excessively on external actors to resolve conflicts on the continent.

He also urged arms-producing and exporting countries to strengthen cooperation with African states and take steps to prevent weapons and ammunition produced within their jurisdictions from being diverted to terrorists and other non-state armed groups.

According to the President, the uncontrolled flow of weapons continues to aggravate insecurity and prolong conflicts in different parts of Africa.

He said African countries needed stronger cooperation with international partners to stop the diversion of arms into criminal and terrorist networks while simultaneously strengthening domestic mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts.

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Tinubu further noted that the AU already has established mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, but limited trust, inconsistent implementation and inadequate resources continue to undermine their effectiveness.

He urged member states to demonstrate stronger political commitment to the decisions of the continental body and improve coordination between the AU and Africa’s regional organisations.

The President also backed sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations, saying the continental body must have adequate resources to respond effectively to emerging conflicts and security crises.

He specifically supported the full operationalisation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, which established a framework for financing eligible AU-led peace support operations through UN assessed contributions on a case-by-case basis.

The financing mechanism is considered important to the AU’s long-term ambition of reducing dependence on unpredictable external funding for African-led peace operations.

Tinubu said strengthening the financial and institutional capacity of the AU would enable the continent to respond more quickly to crises before they escalate into prolonged conflicts.

The Nigerian leader’s intervention came against the backdrop of a deteriorating security environment in several parts of Africa, including conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism, political instability and transnational organised crime.

The AU has repeatedly warned that the continent’s security challenges are becoming increasingly complex, requiring stronger early-warning systems, preventive diplomacy and coordinated action.

Tinubu therefore urged African leaders to renew their commitment to solidarity and shared responsibility in addressing the continent’s challenges.

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

The President’s call for AU action on xenophobia in South Africa is expected to keep the issue on the continental diplomatic agenda ahead of the AU’s 40th Ordinary Session in January 2027.

For Nigeria, the immediate concern remains the protection of Nigerians and other Africans living or conducting business in South Africa, while the broader objective is to ensure that immigration enforcement does not become a justification for violence or discrimination.

Tinubu’s intervention also reinforces Nigeria’s position that African countries must take collective responsibility for protecting the rights, safety and dignity of Africans wherever they live on the continent.

Tinubu takes South Africa xenophobic attacks against Nigerians to AU