Ghana Calls on AU to Address Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa at Mid-Year Summit
The Government of Ghana has formally requested the African Union to place the issue of xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa on the agenda of the Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the AU, scheduled for 24–27 June 2026 in El Alamein, Egypt.
In a letter to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa expressed Ghana’s deep concern over the recurring violence targeting African migrants in South Africa, describing it as a matter of “urgent continental interest.”
The letter noted that xenophobic incidents in South Africa have continued to result in loss of life, destruction of property and investments, and pose a serious threat to the safety and wellbeing of African nationals living in the country.
“It is particularly troubling that manifestations of xenophobia, including violent attacks against fellow Africans, have persisted in recent years,” Ablakwa wrote.
He added that the trend stands in stark contrast to the solidarity African states showed during South Africa’s struggle against apartheid and in its democratic transition.
While acknowledging South Africa’s sovereignty and its primary responsibility to protect all persons within its borders, the Minister stressed that the targeting of African nationals undermines the shared principles of African solidarity, brotherhood, and continental unity enshrined in the AU’s founding ideals.
Ghana argued that the ongoing attacks constitute a clear violation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which South Africa is a state party.
The Minister also said the violence contradicts the spirit of Pan-Africanism and integration, and runs counter to the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to promote free movement and reduce barriers across the continent.
To address the situation, Ghana has urged the AU Commission Chairperson to take the following steps during the upcoming deliberations:
-Inscription of the matter on the official agenda of the Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in line with AU rules of procedure.
-Strengthening AU monitoring mechanisms to support member states in fulfilling their obligations under the AU Constitutive Act and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
-Establishing a fact-finding mission to investigate the root causes of xenophobic violence in South Africa and recommend remedial actions to the AU.
-Facilitating dialogue and reconciliation initiatives to promote tolerance, inclusion, and renewed commitment to continental unity.
The letter invoked the legacy of Ghana’s founding president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, stating that Africa’s future lies in “shared dignity, prosperity, and mutual respect.” “As Nkrumah consistently proclaimed, the full potential and emancipation of Africa can only be achieved when Africa unites.
That aspiration begins with a collective resolve to ensure that no African is dehumanised on African soil,” Ablakwa wrote.
The Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting will bring together AU heads of state, regional economic communities, and continental bodies to coordinate integration and development efforts across Africa.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/
