President Bola Tinubu has formally reported South Africa to the African Union over recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans, warning the incidents threaten continental solidarity.
President Bola Tinubu has escalated Nigeria’s concerns over xenophobic attacks in South Africa to the African Union, formally requesting urgent collective action to protect the dignity and safety of Africans across the continent .
The President made Nigeria’s position known in a message delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU in Luanda, Angola . Tinubu specifically requested that the matter be placed on the agenda of the AU’s 40th Ordinary Session scheduled for January 2027 .
“Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa,” Tinubu declared . While acknowledging South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce immigration laws, he stressed that “such attacks undermine African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence and require urgent collective attention” .
The diplomatic standoff between Abuja and Pretoria has deepened significantly. Nigerian officials report that no fewer than 98 Nigerians have been killed in mob and hate-related attacks in South Africa since 2022 . The Federal Government has evacuated approximately 1,490 affected citizens so far .
Beyond the AU complaint, Tinubu also warned African leaders against allowing foreign military forces to dictate the continent’s response to security crises, stating that such dependence threatens Africa’s ownership of its peace and security agenda .
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