President Bola Tinubu has formally reported recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa to the African Union.

Tinubu made Nigeria’s position known in a message delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Luanda, Angola.

He called on the continental body to place the matter on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly scheduled for January 2027.

The President said the attacks undermined African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence, urging African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the safety, protection and dignity of all African nationals.

He acknowledged South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and its contributions to the continent, but stressed that xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks required urgent collective attention.

Tinubu called for stronger continental efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia, saying dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action were essential to preserving African unity.

On the wider security situation in Africa, the President backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a roadmap for strengthening conflict prevention.

He said conflict prevention remained more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management, while warning that increasing reliance on foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors could weaken African ownership of peace and security initiatives.

Tinubu also called on arms-producing and exporting countries to prevent weapons and ammunition produced within their jurisdictions from being diverted to terrorists and other non-state armed groups.

He urged AU member states to strengthen cooperation, renew their commitment to collective responsibility and pursue home-grown solutions to the continent’s security challenges.