Tinubu Urges AU Action Over Xenophobic Attacks In S’Africa

President Bola Tinubu has called on the African Union to take urgent collective action against recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa.

Tinubu made the call on Sunday through Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Luanda, Angola.

The President urged African leaders to place the issue on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly scheduled for January 2027, so the continent can consider appropriate measures.

Tinubu said the incidents threatened African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence, stressing that the safety, protection and dignity of African nationals should remain a collective responsibility.

While acknowledging South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce immigration laws, the President maintained that enforcement should not become a justification for violence, intimidation or attacks against other Africans.

He called for stronger efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia through dialogue, preventive diplomacy and coordinated continental action.

Tinubu also urged African countries to strengthen cooperation on security challenges, warning that excessive reliance on external actors could weaken African institutions and undermine African ownership of peace and security.

He said the AU already had mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts but noted that poor implementation and limited trust among member states had reduced their effectiveness.

The President encouraged African leaders to renew their commitment to collective responsibility and home-grown solutions to the continent’s challenges.

Nigeria’s intervention follows renewed concerns over anti-immigrant agitation in South Africa, where Nigerians and citizens of other African countries have faced hostility and threats.

The Nigerian government has previously condemned such incidents and called for the protection of its citizens, while maintaining that Nigerians living abroad should respect the laws of their host countries.

Tinubu also backed sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations and supported United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, which seeks to strengthen the AU’s capacity to respond to conflicts and crises.

He urged member states to prioritise solidarity, cooperation and shared responsibility, arguing that a united continental position would help protect Africans and reinforce peaceful coexistence across the continent.