Nigeria and Ghana have united in strong condemnation of the ongoing anti-immigrant violence in South Africa, collectively demanding that the issue of “Afrophobia” be placed on the agenda of the upcoming African Union (AU) summit.
The joint diplomatic push follows weeks of intensifying protests and civil unrest in South Africa targeting foreign nationals. The volatile situation has triggered a mass exodus, with an estimated 150,000 immigrants fleeing the country in recent weeks, according to data compiled from various African nations executing repatriation efforts.
West African Leaders Call for Continental Strategy
The foreign ministers of West Africa’s two largest economies Ghana’s Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Nigeria’s Sola Enikanolaiye met on the sidelines of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gathering in Liberia to discuss the crisis. In a joint statement, the ministers strongly condemned all forms of xenophobia, Afrophobia, and intolerance directed against fellow Africans.
The diplomats stressed that the recurring violence requires a unified response, calling for “urgent, coordinated regional and continental responses” to address the underlying socioeconomic drivers of the tension. Both ministers agreed that the issue must be formally raised at the next pan-African AU summit scheduled for early next year.
Mass Evacuations and Diplomatic Strain
As the unrest persists, home governments have been forced to intervene to protect their citizens. Operational data reveals the scale of the repatriation efforts:
- Nigeria has successfully evacuated 1,490 nationals from South Africa.
- Ghana has repatriated at least 926 of its citizens.
The crisis has also strained diplomatic relations with South Africa, traditionally seen as a primary economic hub and magnet for migrants on the continent. Tensions recently escalated to the point where a scheduled bilateral meeting was halted, and a planned state visit to Accra by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was postponed.
A History of Recurring Tensions
This is not the first time West African nations have sought continental intervention regarding South Africa’s migration challenges. Ghana previously requested a formal AU debate on xenophobic violence in May, though it remains unclear if that proposal materialized. By elevating “Afrophobia” to the summit level, both Abuja and Accra hope to secure a binding commitment from South African authorities to safeguard foreign nationals and foster long-term regional stability.