President Bola Tinubu has formally reported recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians, other Africans, and foreign nationals in South Africa to the African Union, warning that the violence undermines continental solidarity, unity, and peaceful coexistence.
Tinubu stated Nigeria's position in an address delivered on his behalf by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union held in Luanda, Angola.
The President called for prompt and collective action from African leaders, specifically requesting that the issue be tabled on the agenda of the upcoming 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly scheduled for January 2027.
Tinubu said, “Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa.”
He added, “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.”
Emphasising the need for formal continental intervention, Tinubu stated, “It is on this note that Nigeria calls on this august Assembly to place the matter on the agenda of the upcoming 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action,”.
The President urged African leaders to reaffirm their dedication to the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of all African nationals, stressing that dialogue, preventive diplomacy, and collective action remain essential to safeguarding unity across the continent.
Addressing wider regional security challenges, Nigeria endorsed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical framework for conflict prevention.
Tinubu said, “For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,”.
The President cautioned that fragmented peace efforts and rising external interference from foreign military forces, mercenaries, and private defence contractors risk weakening the AU’s conflict prevention frameworks and eroding the principle of African ownership.
He also appealed to arms manufacturing and exporting nations to strengthen collaboration with African states to prevent weapons and ammunition from being diverted to terrorist organisations and other non-state armed groups.
Tinubu noted that while the AU possesses structured conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms, inadequate trust and inconsistent implementation continue to hamper their effectiveness.
He stated, “The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” urging member states to uphold collective responsibility for continental security.
Nigeria also expressed support for predictable and sustainable financing for AU peace operations, as well as the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 to boost the continental body’s capacity to respond to crises.
Tinubu concluded, “Let us, therefore, renew our collective commitment to solidarity, cooperation, and shared responsibility as we build the Africa we want,”.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has clarified that President Tinubu’s three-week vacation to Europe is aimed at allowing him to rest and refuel after months of intensive governance and policymaking.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, disclosed this while speaking with journalists.
Dare said, “The President has had several months, six, seven months, of being engaged with state matters. We’ve seen monumental changes, monumental decisions taken with our security, with our economy and so many other things as pertains to the running of the affairs of this country,”.
The presidential aide noted that the timing of the vacation also aligns with the commencement of political preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dare added, “And at this point, the campaign season has just started. We have four, five months of serious campaigning. Of course, governance will still continue,” explaining that the break will enable the President to recharge ahead of the demanding political cycle while maintaining continuous oversight of government affairs.
0 Comments