Tinubu Urges AU Action On Xenophobic Attacks In South Africa
Nigeria has asked the African Union to address recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa at its January 2027 summit.
President Bola Tinubu has formally asked the African Union (AU) to take collective action over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa.
Tinubu made the request in a message delivered by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Luanda, Angola, on Sunday.
Nigeria called for the issue to be placed on the agenda of the AU’s 40th Ordinary Session, scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action.
While acknowledging South Africa’s sovereign authority to enforce its immigration laws and its contribution to the continent, Tinubu said attacks targeting Africans undermined African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence.
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“While recognising South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and acknowledging its contributions to the continent, Nigeria stresses that such attacks undermine African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence, and require urgent collective attention,” he said.
Nigeria Calls For Continental Response
Tinubu urged African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to protecting the safety, dignity and rights of African nationals, while calling for stronger efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia.
He said dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action were necessary to protect unity among African states.
The president specifically asked the AU Assembly to consider the matter at its January 2027 session and take what Nigeria described as appropriate action.
Tinubu Backs Luanda Action Plan
The Nigerian president also backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a framework for strengthening conflict prevention across Africa.
Nigeria argued that preventing conflicts was more cost-effective and sustainable than managing them after they had escalated.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” Tinubu said.
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He cautioned that fragmented peace initiatives and growing involvement by foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors could weaken the AU’s conflict-prevention mechanisms and the principle of African ownership.
Tinubu also called on countries that manufacture and export arms to work more closely with African states to prevent weapons and ammunition produced within their jurisdictions from being diverted to terrorists and other non-state armed groups.
Nigeria Seeks Stronger AU Peace Efforts
Tinubu said the AU already had mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, but argued that limited trust among member states and inconsistent implementation continued to reduce their effectiveness.
He called on African countries to strengthen their commitment to collective responsibility for peace and security and to pursue solutions developed within the continent.
Nigeria also supported sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations and called for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 to improve the AU’s ability to respond to conflicts and crises.
Tinubu urged African leaders to renew their commitment to cooperation, solidarity and shared responsibility in addressing the continent’s security challenges.
