Xenophobia row: Ghana and Nigeria take South Africa to the African Union

Nigeria and Ghana have formed a strategic alliance to challenge South Africa's handling of migrant safety. The move comes after high-level discussions held during the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The two nations are officially escalating the matter to the African Union. They claim that a recent surge in xenophobic sentiment and violence against African nationals undermines the core principles of Pan-Africanism.

A Push for Legal Process Over Vigilantism

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, joined Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, to finalize the stance. Both leaders emphasized that criminal activity by migrants must be handled through official courts.

The ministers condemned the use of vigilante justice, noting that such actions often harm innocent, law-abiding migrants. They are calling for a shift away from mob violence toward established legal channels.

Ghana confirmed it has already secured support from several regional states for its petition to the African Union. This indicates that diplomatic pressure on Pretoria is no longer just a bilateral issue but a regional priority.

Pretoria Defends Its Global Standing

South Africa is not backing down from the international scrutiny. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated that the government will not permit the issue to be exploited as a means to isolate the country on the world stage.

The Presidency appears ready to participate in a broader continental dialogue regarding migration. However, officials remain firm in rejecting what they describe as an unfair characterization of the domestic situation.

This diplomatic friction follows growing domestic pressure within South Africa. Activists have recently set deadlines for foreign nationals to vacate specific sectors, including salons and spaza shops, further fueling the tension.