President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has raised concerns over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Black Africans in South Africa before the African Union (AU), calling for urgent continental action to address the situation.
Tinubu warned that the attacks threaten African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence, and urged African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to protecting the safety, dignity and rights of all African nationals across the continent.
The President made Nigeria’s position known through Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola.
Tinubu called on the AU to place the issue on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, scheduled to take place in January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action.
“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 said.
He added: “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.”
The Nigerian President also called for stronger continental efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia, stressing that dialogue, diplomacy and collective action were essential to preserving unity among African countries.
Tinubu’s intervention comes amid concerns over repeated attacks and hostility directed at foreign nationals in South Africa, particularly other Africans.
Speaking on the broader security challenges facing the continent, Tinubu also expressed Nigeria’s support for the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical framework for strengthening conflict prevention across Africa.
He argued that preventing conflicts remained more cost-effective and sustainable than managing them after they had escalated.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” the President said.
Tinubu, however, cautioned against fragmented peace initiatives and increasing external involvement in African conflicts through foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors.
According to him, such developments could weaken the AU’s conflict prevention mechanisms and undermine the principle of African ownership of solutions to the continent’s security challenges.
He urged African leaders to strengthen collective approaches to peace and security while ensuring that the continent retains ownership of its conflict prevention and resolution efforts.
