Nigeria condemns xenophobic attacks in South Africa, demands AU action

Africa, Crime Diary

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Nigeria has condemned the latest wave of xenophobic attacks on African immigrants in South Africa, describing the violence as “unacceptable and contrary to the ideals of African unity.” The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the remarks in Abuja while receiving a high‑level delegation of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council led by Ambassador Nasir Aminu and AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye.

The meeting followed the Third Annual Joint Consultative Session between the AU Peace and Security Council and the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, which reviewed emerging threats across Africa. But it was the xenophobic violence in South Africa that dominated Nigeria’s diplomatic tone, with Enikanolaiye warning that the attacks on African nationals, particularly Nigerians, “strike at the heart of the African Union’s founding vision of solidarity and integration.”

He revealed that, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive, the Federal Government had organised government‑funded repatriation flights to evacuate affected Nigerians from South Africa. “Africans must feel safe anywhere on the continent,” the Minister said, urging the AU to place the issue prominently on its peace and security agenda.

The statement marks Nigeria’s strongest diplomatic response yet to the recurring xenophobic violence that has plagued South Africa in recent years, often targeting migrants from other African countries.

Analysts say Abuja’s intervention reflects growing frustration among African governments over what they see as insufficient continental action to protect citizens living and working across borders.

Enikanolaiye also called for deeper cooperation among African institutions to address the continent’s widening security challenges — from terrorism and violent extremism to transnational organised crime and unconstitutional changes of government. He stressed that sustainable peacebuilding requires stronger governance frameworks and more effective mechanisms for conflict prevention.

Beyond the immediate crisis, the Minister linked the attacks to broader migration and integration issues. He urged African Union Member States to strengthen inclusive governance and economic development to reduce tensions and expand opportunities for their citizens. “The free movement of persons must be matched by a sense of shared security,” he said, adding that regional solidarity should not end at political declarations.

The Abuja meeting also discussed financing for African‑led peace operations.

Enikanolaiye reiterated Nigeria’s long‑standing position that Africa must develop predictable and innovative funding mechanisms to support its own security architecture. He warned that excessive dependence on external donors undermines African ownership of peace initiatives and cited ECOWAS’s Community Levy as a model for sustainable regional financing.

Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, speaking for the African Union Commission, commended Nigeria’s leadership in promoting peace and regional integration. He reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to work closely with Member States and Regional Economic Communities to confront the continent’s growing security challenges.

Both sides pledged continued collaboration between the AU, ECOWAS, and national governments to advance peace, democratic governance, and sustainable development across Africa. They agreed to sustain regular consultations to strengthen collective responses to emerging threats — including xenophobia, extremism, and migration‑related violence.

The meeting concluded with a shared call for African unity in action, not just in rhetoric. As Enikanolaiye put it, “Africa’s peace and prosperity depend on how we treat one another — within our borders and beyond.”