President Bola Tinubu has again condemned the recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, calling on African leaders to take a united stand against intolerance and violence targeting foreign nationals.
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, on Sunday, Tinubu described the attacks as unacceptable and called for the issue to be raised at the next African Union (AU) summit.
The President revealed that the Nigerian government had already evacuated more than 1,490 of its citizens from South Africa in seven batches following the wave of xenophobic attacks and anti-immigrant protests.
“Nigeria condemns, in the strongest terms, the recent attacks on its citizens and other Africans in the Republic of South Africa,” Tinubu said.
He supported an earlier call by Ghana’s President for ECOWAS to speak with one voice on the issue, urging the regional bloc to table the matter before the next session of the African Union Authority of Heads of State and Government.
“As already stated by His Excellency, the President of Ghana, ECOWAS should present a united voice in this condemnation and table the matter before the next session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the African Union,” he said.
According to Tinubu, such a move would send a strong message that xenophobia and intolerance have no place on the African continent.
“This would send a clear message that this type of intolerance is totally unacceptable under any guise,” he stated.
The President also reminded South Africa of the support it received from other African nations during its struggle against apartheid, stressing that countries such as Nigeria made significant sacrifices to support the country’s liberation.
“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,” Tinubu added.
The remarks come amid renewed xenophobic violence and anti-immigrant protests in South Africa, which have forced many African nationals to flee their homes and prompted emergency evacuations by several governments.