By Seun Ibiyemi
President Bola Tinubu has urged the African Union (AU) to take urgent collective action against recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans and other nationals in South Africa.
Tinubu made the call through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU in Luanda, Angola.
The President called on African leaders to place the issue on the agenda of the AU’s 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action.
He acknowledged South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and recognised its contributions to the continent, but stressed that such authority should not be used to justify attacks against Africans and other nationals.
“Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa,” Tinubu said.
He added that the attacks undermined African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence, making urgent continental intervention necessary.
Tinubu urged the AU and its member states to intensify efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia through dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action.
The President’s intervention comes amid Nigeria’s longstanding concerns over attacks and hostility directed at Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, which have periodically strained relations between the two countries.
Beyond the xenophobia issue, Tinubu backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a framework for strengthening conflict prevention and addressing the root causes of instability across Africa.
He argued that preventing conflicts was more sustainable and cost-effective than managing them after they had escalated.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” he said.
Tinubu, however, warned that fragmented peace initiatives and growing reliance on foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors could weaken Africa’s conflict-prevention architecture.
He said excessive dependence on external actors also threatened the principle of African ownership of peace and security efforts.
“The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” the President warned.
He called for renewed commitment among member states to collective responsibility and home-grown solutions to the continent’s security challenges.
Tinubu also urged arms-producing and exporting countries to strengthen cooperation with African states to prevent weapons and ammunition manufactured within their territories from being diverted to terrorists and other armed groups.
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Nigeria further supported sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations and called for the full operationalisation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, which provides a framework for supporting AU-led peace operations.
Tinubu said stronger continental institutions, adequate financing and greater political commitment were essential for Africa to effectively address conflicts, insecurity and other challenges.
“Let us therefore renew our collective commitment to solidarity, cooperation, and shared responsibility as we build the Africa we want,” he said.
