By Jelili Gbadamosi
President Bola Tinubu has called on the African Union to take stronger and coordinated action against recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa.
Tinubu made the call through Vice President Kashim Shettima, who presented Nigeria’s position at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Luanda, Angola.
The President urged African leaders to place the issue on the agenda of the AU’s 40th Ordinary Session, scheduled to hold in January 2027, for deliberation and appropriate action.
Tinubu said attacks against Africans in South Africa threaten the principles of African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence, stressing that the safety and dignity of Africans across the continent must be protected.
While acknowledging South Africa’s right to enforce its immigration laws, the President said such powers should not result in violence or discrimination against other Africans and foreign nationals.
He urged the AU to intensify efforts to address xenophobia and Afrophobia through dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action.
Tinubu also used the occasion to call for stronger continental cooperation in tackling Africa’s wider security challenges.
He backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan on conflict prevention, arguing that preventing conflicts would be more sustainable and cost-effective than managing them after they erupt.
The President further warned that uncoordinated peace initiatives and increasing foreign involvement through military forces, mercenaries and private defence companies could undermine Africa’s capacity to resolve its own conflicts.
He also appealed to arms-producing and exporting countries to strengthen cooperation with African governments to prevent weapons and ammunition from reaching terrorists and other armed groups.
According to Tinubu, although the AU has established mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, inadequate trust and weak implementation continue to limit their effectiveness.
