President Bola Tinubu has formally raised concerns over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa before the African Union, calling for urgent continental action to protect Africans and preserve unity.
Tinubu made the position known on Sunday through Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola.
The President called on African leaders to place the issue on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly scheduled for January 2027.
He also urged member states to reaffirm their commitment to protecting the safety, dignity and rights of African nationals across the continent.
“Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa,” Tinubu said.
While acknowledging South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and its contributions to Africa, the President said attacks targeting Africans undermined continental solidarity and peaceful coexistence.
“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 called for the matter to be considered by the AU Assembly and for appropriate action to be taken.
“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 said.
The Nigerian leader also called for stronger continental measures against xenophobia and Afrophobia, stressing that dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action were necessary to preserve Africa’s unity.
The development comes amid recurring concerns over attacks and hostility directed at African migrants and other foreign nationals in parts of South Africa.
The South African government has previously maintained that it was taking steps against perpetrators of violence and discrimination. A South African envoy said more than 80 perpetrators of Afrophobia had been arrested.
Beyond the issue of xenophobia, Tinubu used his intervention at the AU summit to address the broader security situation across Africa.
Nigeria supported the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a framework for strengthening conflict prevention and addressing emerging security challenges before they escalate.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” the President said.
He warned that fragmented peace initiatives and growing external involvement through foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors could weaken the AU’s conflict prevention mechanisms.
According to him, increasing reliance on external actors also threatens the principle of African ownership of the continent’s peace and security agenda.
“The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” he said.
Tinubu further called on countries that manufacture and export arms to strengthen cooperation with African states and prevent weapons and ammunition produced within their territories from being diverted to terrorists and other non-state armed groups.
He said the AU already possessed mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts but noted that limited trust and inconsistent implementation continued to reduce their effectiveness.
Nigeria also backed sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations, as well as the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719.
The resolution is expected to strengthen the AU’s capacity to respond to conflicts and crises across the continent.
Tinubu urged African leaders to place greater emphasis on home-grown solutions, stronger cooperation and shared responsibility in addressing the continent’s security challenges.
He said African countries must renew their collective commitment to solidarity and cooperation while strengthening institutions responsible for maintaining peace.
“Let us therefore renew our collective commitment to solidarity, cooperation, and shared responsibility as we build the Africa we want,” the President said.
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