President Bola Tinubu has called on African leaders to take coordinated action against recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa, warning that such incidents threaten the unity and solidarity of the continent.
Tinubu’s position was presented at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, on Sunday by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the Nigerian leader at the gathering.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President.
Speaking on Nigeria’s behalf, Shettima urged the African Union to give the issue formal consideration at its next ordinary summit. Nigeria specifically requested that the matter be placed on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly 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 said in the message delivered by the Vice President.
The President acknowledged South Africa’s sovereign authority to enforce its immigration laws and recognised the country’s contributions to the African continent. However, he stressed that immigration enforcement should not be accompanied by attacks or hostility against other Africans.
According to Tinubu, such incidents undermine the principles of African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence and therefore require a coordinated response from the continent’s leadership.
He consequently urged the AU Assembly to consider the matter and take appropriate action when African heads of state meet in January.
The Nigerian President also advocated stronger continental mechanisms for tackling xenophobia and Afrophobia, arguing that sustained dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective intervention were necessary to protect the rights, dignity and safety of Africans across the continent.
Nigeria Backs Luanda Action Plan
Beyond the South Africa issue, Nigeria used the AU gathering to reaffirm its commitment to strengthening Africa’s capacity to prevent and manage conflicts.
Tinubu endorsed the Luanda Action Plan, describing it as a practical framework for improving conflict prevention across the continent.
He maintained that African countries should place greater emphasis on preventing conflicts before they escalate, rather than relying primarily on interventions after violence has already broken out.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” the President said.
He also expressed concern about the growing involvement of foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors in African conflicts.
According to Tinubu, increasing dependence on external actors could weaken African institutions and undermine the principle that Africans should take ownership of efforts to resolve the continent’s security challenges.
“The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” he said.
The President therefore called on AU member states to strengthen their commitment to home-grown approaches to peace and security while improving cooperation among themselves.
Tinubu Calls for Action on Arms Diversion
Tinubu further appealed to countries that manufacture and export arms to work more closely with African states to prevent weapons and ammunition from being diverted to terrorist organisations and other armed groups.
He argued that tighter cooperation between arms-producing nations and African governments was necessary to reduce the availability of weapons that fuel conflicts and insecurity across the continent.
The President also backed calls for sustainable and predictable financing for AU-led peace operations.
Nigeria urged the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, which is intended to strengthen the financing and operational capacity of African Union peace support missions.
Tinubu said Africa’s existing peace and security mechanisms could deliver greater results if member states demonstrated stronger political commitment, built greater trust and consistently implemented agreed decisions.
Call for Renewed African Solidarity
The Nigerian leader ultimately urged African heads of state to renew their commitment to collective responsibility in confronting the continent’s security and social challenges.
He stressed that stronger cooperation among African nations was essential to preserving peace, protecting African citizens and advancing the continent’s long-term integration.
“Let us therefore renew our collective commitment to solidarity, cooperation, and shared responsibility as we build the Africa we want,” Tinubu said.
Shettima attended the Luanda session alongside Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Ojo; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.); Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the AU and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Ambassador Nasir Aminu; and Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Angola, Ambassador Maxy Ogbede.
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