Xenophobic Attacks: AU To Debate At Next Summit
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s call for the African Union (AU) to formally address the growing wave of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa, describing the issue as a serious threat to African unity and continental integration.
Speaking after bilateral talks on the sidelines of the AU Extraordinary Summit in Accra, President Mahama disclosed that AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf had acknowledged the urgency of the matter and agreed that it should be placed on the agenda of the next AU Summit.
The President said Ghana had officially petitioned the AU Commission to ensure the issue receives continental attention, insisting that silence or inaction would only allow the problem to persist. According to him, Ghana’s position was also conveyed directly to a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who met him in Accra earlier in the week.
President Mahama stressed that Ghana’s concerns should not be interpreted as hostility toward South Africa, noting that the two countries continue to enjoy longstanding relations. However, he said the repeated attacks on African migrants and the substantial economic losses suffered by victims from across the continent cannot be ignored. He warned that the violence undermines the ideals of African solidarity and threatens the vision of a united continent under the African Union’s integration agenda.
The President argued that bringing the issue before the AU Summit would provide South Africa with a formal platform to explain its position while enabling member states to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at finding lasting solutions to the recurring attacks. He maintained that confronting the issue collectively would help address its underlying causes and strengthen efforts to safeguard the rights, dignity and investments of Africans living and working across the continent.
President Mahama reiterated Ghana’s commitment to working closely with all AU member states to promote peace, protect the safety of African citizens, and preserve the principles of unity and shared prosperity that underpin the African Union.
He concluded that Africa’s greatest strength lies in its unity and urged member states to work together in ensuring that every African, regardless of where they live on the continent, can enjoy security, dignity and equal opportunity.
Author: Joyce Owusu
