President Bola Tinubu has formally raised Nigeria’s concerns over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa before the African Union (AU), calling for urgent collective action to protect Africans and strengthen continental solidarity.
The Nigerian President made the position known at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola. Tinubu was represented at the meeting by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who delivered the Nigerian government’s message to African leaders.
The development marks a renewed diplomatic push by Nigeria to place the issue of xenophobia in South Africa within a broader African framework, rather than treating attacks against foreign nationals as an isolated bilateral dispute between Nigeria and South Africa.
Nigeria Wants AU to Address Xenophobic Attacks
According to the President’s position, Nigeria is concerned about recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals living in South Africa.
Tinubu argued that while South Africa has the sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, such authority should not translate into discrimination, violence or attacks against other Africans.
He therefore called on the African Union to put the matter on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, scheduled for January 2027, so that African leaders can consider appropriate measures.
The Nigerian position reflects growing concern over the treatment of migrants in South Africa, particularly amid reports of attacks and intimidation involving foreign nationals. Nigeria has repeatedly called for the protection of its citizens and other African nationals who live, work and operate businesses in the country.
Tinubu Calls for Protection of Africans
At the AU gathering, the Nigerian government stressed the importance of protecting the safety, dignity and rights of African nationals regardless of the country in which they reside.
The President maintained that xenophobia and Afrophobia are inconsistent with the ideals of African unity and cooperation. He argued that recurring attacks threaten the principle of solidarity upon which the continental organisation was established.
This argument is particularly significant because South Africa and Nigeria have historically played influential roles in continental affairs. Both countries have also maintained extensive economic, diplomatic and people-to-people ties.
Consequently, persistent tensions involving Nigerian nationals in South Africa have the potential to affect not only bilateral relations but also wider efforts toward African integration.
South Africa’s Immigration Rights and Responsibilities
The Nigerian government, while raising concerns over xenophobia, acknowledged South Africa’s right to enforce its immigration regulations.
That distinction is important because governments have legitimate responsibilities to regulate immigration, protect national security and enforce their laws. However, immigration enforcement must operate within the framework of the rule of law and respect for human dignity.
The Nigerian position therefore appears to distinguish between lawful immigration control and violence or discrimination directed at foreigners.
South African authorities have previously rejected suggestions that xenophobia is officially sponsored by the state. South African diplomatic representatives have also indicated that authorities have arrested perpetrators of Afrophobic attacks. Nevertheless, concerns over the safety of foreign nationals continue to generate diplomatic and public attention.
Nigerians Returning Home Amid Safety Concerns
The latest diplomatic intervention comes against the background of Nigerians returning from South Africa amid concerns over their security and livelihoods.
Recent reports indicate that Nigerian nationals have been voluntarily repatriated from South Africa, with additional returnees arriving through privately sponsored arrangements. The developments have intensified conversations about the safety of Nigerians living and doing business in the southern African country.
For many Nigerians, the issue goes beyond diplomatic statements. Migrants affected by violence or intimidation can lose homes, businesses, jobs and investments accumulated over several years.
That is why the Nigerian government faces the dual responsibility of pursuing diplomatic solutions abroad while supporting affected returnees at home.
Why the AU Intervention Matters
Taking the issue to the African Union could provide Nigeria with a broader diplomatic platform for addressing xenophobia.
Rather than allowing individual African countries to respond separately whenever their citizens face attacks abroad, the AU could develop stronger continental mechanisms for protecting Africans living in other member states.
Such mechanisms could include improved diplomatic coordination, early-warning systems, stronger monitoring of xenophobic incidents and structured dialogue between affected governments.
The broader objective would be to ensure that African integration is not limited to trade agreements and political declarations but also includes the freedom, security and dignity of Africans across national borders.
Tinubu Links Xenophobia to Wider African Unity
President Tinubu’s intervention also fits into his broader call for stronger African cooperation on security and conflict prevention.
At the Luanda summit, Nigeria supported the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical framework for strengthening conflict prevention across the continent. Tinubu argued that preventing conflicts is more sustainable and cost-effective than attempting to manage them after they have escalated.
He also cautioned against excessive dependence on external military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors, arguing that such dependence could weaken African institutions and the principle of African ownership of continental security challenges.
These issues connect with the xenophobia debate because both involve the question of how effectively African institutions can respond to challenges affecting Africans.
A Test for African Solidarity
The controversy surrounding xenophobic attacks in South Africa presents a significant test for the idea of African solidarity.
For decades, African countries have promoted the vision of a united continent where citizens can cooperate across borders. Yet economic disparities, unemployment, migration pressures and political tensions have sometimes fuelled hostility towards foreign nationals.
South Africa’s relatively advanced economy has made it an important destination for migrants from across Africa, including Nigeria. However, competition over jobs, housing and economic opportunities can become a source of tension when communities are facing economic hardship.
Addressing these underlying issues requires more than condemnation after violence occurs. African governments must also strengthen economic opportunities, improve migration management and tackle misinformation that portrays migrants as the primary cause of local economic problems.
What Happens Next?
Nigeria is now seeking for the issue to receive formal consideration at the 40th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in January 2027.
The outcome of that process could determine whether the AU develops a more coordinated continental response to xenophobia and Afrophobia.
For Nigeria, the priority remains the protection of its citizens and other Africans living in South Africa. For the African Union, the challenge is broader: ensuring that the principle of African unity is matched by practical measures capable of protecting Africans wherever they live on the continent.
The latest move by President Bola Tinubu therefore places Nigeria-South Africa relations, migrant protection and the future of African solidarity firmly on the continental agenda.
As the debate continues, the central question is whether African leaders can transform repeated expressions of concern into concrete measures that prevent xenophobic violence and guarantee the dignity and safety of Africans across national borders.
For Premium News Naija, the development underscores the importance of a collective African response to xenophobia, one that protects national sovereignty while ensuring that no African becomes a target simply because they were born on the other side of a border.
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