President Bola Tinubu has called on the African Union (AU) to take action against recurring xenophobic attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa.
Tinubu made the appeal on Sunday through Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who delivered the president’s address at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Luanda, Angola.
He urged the AU to include the issue in the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session scheduled for January 2027.
“It is on this note that Nigeria calls on this august Assembly to place the matter on the agenda,” NAN quoted him as saying.
Tinubu warned that continued xenophobic attacks could undermine African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence, stressing the need for a collective response from continental leaders.
While acknowledging South Africa’s authority to enforce its immigration laws and its contributions to Africa’s development, the president called on countries across the continent to safeguard the safety, dignity and fundamental rights of their citizens living abroad.
He also advocated dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action as tools for addressing xenophobia and Afrophobia across Africa.
According to Tinubu, a coordinated continental approach would help prevent recurring attacks and strengthen peaceful relations among African countries.
Tinubu cautions against external interference in African conflicts
Speaking on security, Tinubu supported the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan, describing conflict prevention as a more sustainable way of dealing with crises across the continent.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the growing dependence on foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors, warning that such reliance could undermine African-led efforts to resolve conflicts.
“The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” he said.
Tinubu further urged countries that manufacture and export arms to strengthen cooperation with African nations to prevent weapons and ammunition from falling into the hands of terrorist organisations and other non-state armed groups.
He noted that although the AU has existing mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, their effectiveness has been hindered by limited trust and inconsistent implementation.
The president therefore called on member states to deepen cooperation and assume greater collective responsibility for maintaining peace and security across Africa.