Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Formally Reports South Africa's Xenophobic Attacks to African Union

Delivering the message at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola on Sunday, Tinubu stressed that while South Africa has a sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, the attacks require urgent collective attention. The President was represented at the summit by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Nigeria's Formal Complaint

In his address, Tinubu made Nigeria's position clear:

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"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."

The President formally requested that the matter be placed on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action.

Call for Stronger Continental Action

Tinubu called for stronger continental efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia, stressing that dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action remained essential to preserving African unity. He urged African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the safety, protection and dignity of all African nationals, regardless of their countries of origin.

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.

Broader Security Concerns

On the wider security situation across the continent, Nigeria backed 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," Tinubu said.

The President warned that fragmented peace initiatives and increasing external interference through foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors risked weakening the AU's conflict prevention mechanisms and the principle of African ownership.

"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.

Arms Control and Peace Financing

Tinubu 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.

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.

A Call for African Unity

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," the President said.

The development follows weeks of heightened tensions between Nigeria and South Africa over anti-immigrant violence that has forced thousands of foreign nationals to leave South Africa. Nigeria has already evacuated over 1,500 of its citizens from the country in recent months, with another 65 set to return on Wednesday.

With reporting from BBC News Pidgin, Arise TV, Vanguard, The Punch, THISDAY, The Sun Nigeria and allAfrica.com.