By Fatima Saka
President Bola Tinubu has called on African leaders to take urgent collective action against recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa.
Tinubu made the call on Sunday at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) in Luanda, Angola, where he was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The President, through Shettima, expressed Nigeria’s concern over repeated attacks, stressing that such incidents undermine African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence.
While acknowledging South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and its contributions to the continent, Tinubu said such powers should not be used to justify attacks against other Africans.
“Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa,” he said.
He consequently urged the AU to place the issue on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action.
Tinubu also called for stronger continental efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia through dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action.
His intervention formed part of Nigeria’s broader position on peace and security at the Luanda meeting, where he backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a framework for strengthening conflict prevention across Africa.
The President maintained that preventing conflicts was more cost-effective and sustainable than waiting for violence to occur before responding.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” Tinubu said.
He further expressed concern over fragmented peace initiatives and increasing foreign involvement in African conflicts, warning that the growing presence of foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors could weaken African institutions and undermine the principle of African ownership.
Tinubu also called on arms-producing and exporting countries to strengthen cooperation with African nations and ensure that weapons manufactured in their territories do not end up in the hands of terrorists and other non-state armed groups.
According to him, the AU already possesses mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, but mistrust among member states and poor implementation have continued to undermine their effectiveness.
“The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” he warned.
The President therefore urged African countries to renew their commitment to collective responsibility for peace and security while supporting sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations.
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He also backed the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, which is aimed at strengthening the AU’s capacity to respond to conflicts and crises.
Tinubu urged African leaders to prioritise home-grown solutions, stronger cooperation and shared responsibility in addressing the continent’s security challenges.
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