Ghana and Nigeria Demand African Union Action as 160,000 Flee Xenophobic Violence in South Africa

Ghana and Nigeria have formally called upon the African Union (AU) to intervene in escalating "Afrophobic" violence in South Africa, which has prompted more than 160,000 foreign nationals to flee the country in recent months. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ghanaian leadership are advocating for the issue to be prioritized at the upcoming AU summit following a wave of protests and attacks targeting African migrants. This diplomatic push comes as the scale of the crisis reaches a tipping point, with thousands of individuals from Zimbabwe, Malawi, and other nations seeking urgent repatriation to escape the unrest.

The situation on the ground has become increasingly volatile, particularly in areas like Jeffreys Bay, where armored vehicles were recently deployed to support police operations after anti-migrant protests turned violent. Recent reports indicate that the unrest has resulted in at least four confirmed fatalities, though some governments suggest the death toll may be significantly higher. In Jeffreys Bay alone, 23 shops owned by foreign nationals were looted amid gunfire, fueled by local claims that undocumented migrants are displacing citizens in the labor market. While South African authorities have made arrests for looting, tensions remain high as no suspects have been apprehended for the shootings, leading to widespread fear and suspicion within migrant communities.

During the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President John Dramani Mahama urged the regional body to focus on implementing existing treaties to protect African nationals. Mahama specifically highlighted the killings of Ghanaians and Nigerians, stressing that the ECOWAS Compact must prioritize peace and security over the creation of new protocols. He emphasized that regional leadership must ensure current agreements are strictly enforced to foster genuine solidarity across borders, particularly as the continent faces mounting security and economic challenges that require a unified front.

Despite the outcry from across the continent, the South African government has largely rejected allegations of systemic violence against foreigners, even as the mass exodus continues. This wave of repatriation marks one of the first coordinated responses from multiple African governments following a long history of xenophobic tensions in the region. As Ghana and Nigeria push for continental-level accountability at the African Union, the international community is monitoring whether the AU will take decisive action to address the root causes of the unrest and ensure the safety of all African nationals residing in South Africa.