Xenophobia: Tinubu Takes South Africa to AU

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken Nigeria’s concerns over repeated xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa to the African Union (AU), calling for urgent continental action.

Tinubu made the position known through Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola.

The President asked African leaders to place the issue on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly scheduled for January 2027.

Nigeria’s position is that South Africa has the right to enforce its immigration laws, but attacks against African nationals should not be allowed to continue because of their effect on relations among African countries.

Tinubu called for measures that would protect the safety, dignity and rights of Africans living in other African countries, while urging the AU to address xenophobia and Afrophobia through dialogue and collective action.

The President said Nigeria remained concerned about the recurrence of attacks against Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa and believed the matter required attention at the continental level.

He also called for stronger preventive diplomacy and cooperation among African countries to address tensions before they develop into wider conflicts.

On the broader security situation across Africa, Nigeria supported the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a framework for improving conflict prevention and reducing the spread of violence across the continent.

Tinubu said preventing conflicts would be more sustainable and less costly than waiting until crises had already developed before attempting to resolve them.

The President also raised concerns about the growing involvement of foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors in African conflicts.

According to him, excessive dependence on external actors could weaken African institutions and reduce the continent’s ability to develop and implement its own solutions to security problems.

Tinubu urged African countries to strengthen cooperation with nations that manufacture and export arms to prevent weapons and ammunition from being diverted to terrorists and other armed groups.

He said the African Union already had mechanisms designed to prevent and resolve conflicts, but their effectiveness was being affected by limited trust among member states and inconsistent implementation.

Nigeria also supported efforts to establish reliable and sustainable funding for AU peace operations.

The country backed the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, which provides a framework for financing AU-led peace support operations through UN assessed contributions.

Tinubu urged African leaders to rely more on home-grown solutions, stronger regional cooperation and shared responsibility in dealing with security challenges across the continent.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has explained that Tinubu’s ongoing three-week vacation in Europe was planned to give him an opportunity to rest after months of intensive government activities.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, explained the reason for the trip while speaking with journalists.

Dare said Tinubu had spent the previous six to seven months heavily involved in matters of governance, including decisions relating to the economy, security and other areas of national administration.

He said the President’s break would allow him to regain strength before entering a period expected to involve increased political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Dare, the coming months would involve extensive campaign activities, while Tinubu would continue to perform his constitutional responsibilities as President.

The presidential aide added that governance would continue during the President’s absence from the country, with Tinubu expected to remain informed about developments and monitor government affairs.

The vacation comes as political parties begin preparations for the 2027 elections, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) expected to increase its political activities as the election season approaches.