Nigeria has formally raised concerns at the African Union over repeated xenophobic and Afrophobic violence targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa, calling for the issue to receive urgent attention from continental leaders.
President Bola Tinubu conveyed Nigeria’s position through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Luanda, Angola. He asked that the matter be placed on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, scheduled for January 2027.
In the statement delivered by Shettima, Nigeria acknowledged South Africa’s right to enforce its immigration laws and recognised the country’s contributions to the continent. At the same time, it stressed that the attacks undermine African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence and require collective action.
Tinubu urged stronger continental efforts against xenophobia and Afrophobia, emphasising dialogue, preventive diplomacy and joint measures to protect the safety, dignity and rights of all African nationals.
On broader security issues, Nigeria supported the Luanda Action Plan as a practical framework for conflict prevention, arguing that stopping conflicts before they escalate is more effective and less costly than managing them afterward. The president warned that fragmented peace initiatives and growing reliance on external military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors risk weakening the AU’s mechanisms and the principle of African ownership of security solutions.
He called on arms-producing countries to work more closely with African states to stop weapons and ammunition from reaching terrorists and other non-state armed groups. Nigeria also backed predictable financing for AU peace operations and the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to strengthen the continent’s capacity to respond to crises.
Tinubu closed by urging leaders to renew their commitment to home-grown solutions, cooperation and shared responsibility for Africa’s peace and security.
The intervention comes amid long-standing complaints from several African countries about periodic outbreaks of violence against foreign nationals in South Africa. Nigeria has previously spoken out against such incidents and the treatment of its citizens.
The request to place the xenophobia issue on the agenda of the January 2027 AU Assembly session will now depend on whether other member states support its inclusion and subsequent discussion.
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