ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria is formally urging the African Union (AU) to take decisive action regarding recent xenophobia and afrophobia protests in South Africa targeting undocumented immigrants. The Tinubu administration has significantly escalated its diplomatic efforts, moving beyond mere intention to formally report the matter and seek its inclusion on the agenda of the upcoming ordinary AU assembly of heads of state.
This strategic shift marks a notable escalation in diplomatic pressure. During an extraordinary session of the African Union assembly in Luanda, Angola, the Vice President of Nigeria issued a formal call to the continental body. The Nigerian government’s position asserts that South Africa must take concrete steps to address the recurring afrophobic and xenophobic violence. This move builds on previous behind-the-scenes lobbying by Nigeria and Ghana to ensure the issue receives high-level attention.
Pretoria has consistently pushed back against this characterization. At a prior summit of foreign affairs ministers held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, an agreement was reached to keep the matter off the official agenda. South Africa argues that undocumented migration is a complex, continent-wide challenge, not a problem unique to its borders. This stance is strongly supported by the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The South African President, acting in the capacity of SADC chair, recently took regional counterparts into confidence, explaining the on-the-ground realities and South Africa’s official position. Consequently, the SADC summit formally agreed that the issue should not be placed on the AU agenda.
Despite the ministerial-level agreement, the Tinubu administration is strategically targeting the highest levels of AU governance. Beyond the assembly of heads of state, Nigeria’s endgame appears to involve referring the matter to specialized AU agencies. This includes the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and other mechanisms like NEPAD. The administration is seeking a formal discussion next year that could lead to institutional scrutiny of the events in South Africa.
As the continent prepares for the ordinary AU assembly early next year, an intense lobbying battle is anticipated. The AU Commission Chair is expected to provide crucial direction on how the body will process this formal complaint, navigating the conflicting prior agreements. South Africa is actively lobbying member states and regional blocs to ensure the conversation remains holistic. Pretoria is pointing to a 2013 AU resolution that called for a special conference on migration, arguing that the focus must remain on the broader push and pull factors of continental migration rather than isolating South Africa.
The coming months will reveal whether the African Union will yield to the push for targeted action on xenophobia, or if it will adopt South Africa’s broader framework for addressing migration challenges across the continent.
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