President Bola Tinubu has raised concerns over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa, calling for stronger action by the African Union.
Tinubu’s position was presented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola. The Nigerian president said attacks against foreign nationals threaten the principles of African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, disclosed the position on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
While recognising South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and acknowledging its contributions to the continent, Nigeria said those responsibilities should not come at the expense of the safety and dignity of other Africans.
Tinubu therefore urged African leaders to take collective steps to address xenophobia and Afrophobia. Nigeria also asked the AU to place the issue on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session, scheduled for January 2027, for further consideration and appropriate action.
The Nigerian president argued that dialogue, preventive diplomacy and coordinated action are necessary to protect African unity. He also backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan, describing conflict prevention as a more sustainable approach than dealing with crises after they have already erupted.
The renewed concern comes as Nigerians continue to return from South Africa under repatriation programmes. Sixty-seven Nigerians arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on August 26, comprising 30 adults, 36 children and one infant.
Their return came less than two weeks after another group of 83 Nigerians was repatriated from South Africa on August 18. The developments have added fresh attention to the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa and the broader challenge of xenophobia across the continent.
