President Bola Tinubu on Sunday in Angola reported the recurring xenophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa to the African Union, stating that such attacks undermine the continent’s solidarity, unity, and peaceful coexistence.
In order to take collective action, he insisted that African leaders put the issue on the agenda for the upcoming AU Assembly session in January 2027.
At the 21st Extraordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Luanda, Angola, the president spoke on behalf of Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement headlined “President Tinubu Takes Fight Against Xenophobic, Afrophobic Attacks in S’Africa To AU,” Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the VP on Media and Communication, revealed this information on Sunday.
According to Nkwocha, Tinubu said, “Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa.
“While recognizing 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 formally requested that the matter be tabled at the next ordinary session of the Assembly, saying, “It is on this note that Nigeria calls on this august Assembly to place the matter on the agenda of the upcoming 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action.”
Tinubu emphasized that communication, preventive diplomacy, and group action were still crucial to maintaining African unity and urged for increased continental efforts to fight xenophobia and Afrophobia.
Regarding the continent’s overall security situation, he supported the Luanda Action Plan’s adoption as a workable road map for enhancing conflict prevention, contending that it was more affordable and long-lasting than handling conflicts after they broke out.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” he stated.
He cautioned that the AU’s conflict prevention measures and the African ownership principle could be weakened by fragmented peace attempts and increasing external meddling through foreign armed personnel, mercenaries, and private defense contractors.
He urged member states to reaffirm their commitment to shared responsibility for the peace and security of the continent, saying that “the rising reliance on external players risks eroding African institutions and the notion of African ownership.”
In order to stop terrorists and other non-state armed organizations from obtaining weapons and ammunition produced within their borders, he also urged nations that manufacture and export weapons to work more closely with African nations.
Tinubu insisted that despite the AU’s strong conflict prevention and resolution processes, their efficacy is nonetheless compromised by member state mistrust and uneven application.
Nigeria also supported the full operationalization of UN Security Council Resolution 2719, which aims to increase the continental body’s ability to respond to conflicts and emergencies, as well as sustainable and predictable funding for AU peace operations.
“Let us therefore renew our collective commitment to solidarity, cooperation, and shared responsibility as we build the Africa we want.” he said, urging African leaders to revert to domestic strategies in tackling the continent’s security and socioeconomic issues.,”
