President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally tabled Nigeria's concerns over sustained xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against The post Afrophobic attacks: Call South Africa to order, Tinubu tells AU appeared first on Tribune Online .
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally tabled Nigeria’s concerns over sustained xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa before the African Union (AU).
Represented at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) in Luanda, Angola, President Tinubu cautioned that hostility towards nationals of other countries in South Africa threatens the continent’s solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence.
Checks revealed that following a wave of anti-immigrant protests, Nigeria embarked on the voluntary evacuation of over 1,500 of its citizens from South Africa.
A statement signed by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, and made available to State House correspondents, disclosed that President Tinubu requested prompt collective action from the continent’s leaders, including the placement of the development on the agenda for the 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly.
He said: “Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa.
“While recognising South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and acknowledging its contributions to the continent, Nigeria stresses that such attacks undermine African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence, and require urgent collective attention.
“It is on this note that Nigeria calls on this august Assembly to place the matter on the agenda of the upcoming 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action.”
President Tinubu further called for stronger continental efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia, stressing that dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action remained essential to preserving African unity.
Responding to discussions on the wider security situation across the continent, Nigeria aligned itself with the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical roadmap for strengthening conflict prevention, arguing that preventing conflicts was cheaper and more sustainable than managing them after they erupt.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” President Tinubu said.
The Nigerian leader warned that fragmented peace initiatives and increasing external interference through foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors risk weakening the AU’s conflict prevention mechanisms and the principle of African ownership.
He further called on arms-producing and exporting countries to strengthen cooperation with African states and prevent weapons and ammunition produced within their jurisdictions from being diverted to terrorists and other non-state armed groups.
The Nigerian leader maintained that while the AU has robust mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, limited trust and inconsistent implementation continue to undermine their effectiveness.
“The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” he said, calling on member states to renew their commitment to collective responsibility for Africa’s peace and security.
Nigeria also backed sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations and the full operationalisation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to strengthen the continental body’s capacity to respond effectively to conflicts and crises.
President Tinubu urged African leaders to recommit themselves to home-grown solutions, stronger cooperation and shared responsibility in tackling the continent’s security challenges.
“Let us therefore renew our collective commitment to solidarity, cooperation, and shared responsibility as we build the Africa we want.”
