President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has warned that recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa pose a grave threat to the unity, solidarity, and peaceful coexistence of the African continent.
The Nigerian President issued the warning in a formal message delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Luanda, Angola.
Tinubu cautioned that persistent hostility and violence against foreign nationals undermine the core ideals of Pan-Africanism and jeopardize ongoing continental integration efforts.
“Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa,” Tinubu stated, emphasizing that the protection of African citizens must remain a collective continental responsibility.
He stressed that safeguarding the safety, dignity, and fundamental human rights of all Africans regardless of their country of origin is non-negotiable if the continent is to achieve meaningful socioeconomic cohesion.
To address the recurring crisis, Nigeria formally petitioned the AU to place the matter on the agenda of the upcoming 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, urging member states to develop a decisive, coordinated response rather than treating the attacks as isolated domestic issues.
Tinubu called on African leaders to translate continental commitments into concrete action by establishing an enforceable framework to prevent discrimination, ensure accountability, and preserve the foundational spirit of solidarity upon which the African Union was built.