President Bola Tinubu has formally reported the recurring wave of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans in South Africa to the African Union, warning that such incidents severely undermine continental solidarity and peaceful coexistence.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, the Nigerian leader called for prompt collective action.
He specifically requested that the matter be placed on the agenda for the AU’s 40th Ordinary Session scheduled for January 2027 to ensure adequate protection and dignity for all African nationals.
Beyond addressing the situation in South Africa, Tinubu advocated for broader continental security reforms by backing the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical roadmap for conflict prevention.
He emphasized that proactive prevention remains far more cost-effective and sustainable than managing crises after violence erupts.
Furthermore, the President warned against increasing external interference—citing foreign military forces, mercenaries, and private defence contractors—which he argued risks weakening African ownership and the AU’s internal security architecture.
He also urged arms-producing nations to tighten cooperation with African states to prevent weapons diversion to terrorists and non-state armed groups.
To reinforce these security frameworks, Tinubu underscored the necessity of predictable financing for AU peace operations and the full operationalisation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719.
He noted that while robust mechanisms already exist within the continental body, limited trust and inconsistent implementation continue to hamper their effectiveness.
Urging member states to rely on home-grown solutions, the President called for a renewed mutual commitment to shared responsibility in tackling the continent’s multifaceted challenges.
