President Bola Tinubu has called on the African Union to take collective action against recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa.
Tinubu made the call on Sunday at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, where he was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The President urged African leaders to place the issue on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly scheduled for January 2027, saying a coordinated continental response was necessary to protect African solidarity and peaceful coexistence.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, titled, ‘President Tinubu Takes Fight Against Xenophobic, Afrophobic Attacks in S’Africa To AU’.
Tinubu said Nigeria remained concerned about the repeated attacks and stressed that while South Africa had the right to enforce its immigration laws, such actions against other nationals could not be ignored.
““Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa.
“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 formally asked the continental body to consider the matter at its next ordinary session.
“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.”
The President also advocated stronger continental measures to confront xenophobia and Afrophobia, identifying dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action as key to maintaining unity across Africa.
Turning to the continent’s wider security challenges, Tinubu supported the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a framework for improving conflict prevention.
He argued that African countries would achieve better and more sustainable results by preventing conflicts rather than waiting until they escalate before responding.
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“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” he stated.
Tinubu further cautioned that the increasing involvement of foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors in African conflicts could weaken the AU’s conflict-prevention structures and undermine the principle of African ownership.
“The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” he said, urging member states to strengthen their shared responsibility for maintaining peace and security on the continent.
The President also called on countries that manufacture and export arms to work more closely with African governments to stop weapons and ammunition produced in their territories from reaching terrorists and other non-state armed groups.
According to him, the AU already has established mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, but inadequate trust among member states and uneven implementation continue to limit their effectiveness.
Nigeria also expressed support for sustainable and predictable funding for AU peace operations, as well as the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, which seeks to enhance the AU’s ability to respond to conflicts and crises.
Tinubu concluded by urging African leaders to strengthen homegrown solutions to the continent’s security and social problems.
“Let us therefore renew our collective commitment to solidarity, cooperation, and shared responsibility as we build the Africa we want.”