Tinubu drags South Africa to African Union over xenophobia

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally raised concerns over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa before the African Union, calling for collective action to address the problem.

Tinubu made the call 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.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, the President urged African leaders to place the issue on the agenda of the next ordinary session of the AU Assembly scheduled for January 2027.

Nigeria, Tinubu said, remained concerned about repeated attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa, despite recognising the country’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws.

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

“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 subsequently called on the AU to formally consider the matter at its forthcoming 40th Ordinary Session.

“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 President also advocated stronger continental measures against xenophobia and Afrophobia, stressing the importance of dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action in preserving peace and unity across Africa.

Tinubu backs Luanda Action Plan

Speaking on the broader security challenges confronting the continent, Tinubu supported the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a framework for strengthening conflict prevention.

He argued that preventing conflicts was more cost-effective and sustainable than managing them after they had erupted.

“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” the President stated.

Tinubu also warned against the growing involvement of foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors in African conflicts, saying such developments could weaken the AU’s conflict prevention mechanisms and undermine African ownership of peace and security initiatives.

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

He therefore urged member states to renew their commitment to taking collective responsibility for peace and security on the continent.

The President further called on countries that manufacture and export arms to strengthen cooperation with African governments to prevent weapons and ammunition produced within their territories from falling into the hands of terrorists and other non-state armed groups.

According to Tinubu, the AU already has mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, but their effectiveness continues to be weakened by limited trust among member states and inconsistent implementation.

Nigeria also expressed support for sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations and called for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719.

The resolution is aimed at strengthening the AU’s capacity to respond to conflicts and crises across the continent.

Tinubu urged African leaders to rely more on homegrown solutions to address the continent’s security and social challenges.

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

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