President Bola Tinubu has called on the African Union (AU) to take collective action against recurring xenophobic attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa, warning that such incidents threaten the unity and solidarity of the continent.
Tinubu made the call on Sunday in a speech delivered by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Luanda, Angola.
The President urged the continental body to place Nigeria’s concerns over xenophobic attacks on the agenda of the AU’s 40th Ordinary Session, scheduled for January 2027.
“It is on this note that Nigeria calls on this august Assembly to place the matter on the agenda,” Tinubu said, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said the continued attacks undermine African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence, stressing the need for African leaders to respond to the challenge collectively.
While acknowledging South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, Tinubu also recognised the country’s contributions to Africa’s development.
However, he stressed that African nations must ensure the safety, dignity and fundamental rights of their citizens wherever they live and work across the continent.
The President advocated greater reliance on dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action to address xenophobia and Afrophobia, saying a coordinated continental response would help prevent recurring attacks and strengthen peaceful coexistence among Africans.
Tinubu Warns Against External Interference in African Conflicts
On security and conflict management, Tinubu expressed Nigeria’s support for the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan, describing conflict prevention as a more sustainable approach to addressing crises across Africa.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” he said.
The President called for stronger African-led mechanisms for preventing conflicts and resolving disputes, stressing the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding peace, stability and unity across the continent.
