The Ministry of Foreign has formally requested that recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa be placed on the agenda of the upcoming African Union meeting.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, submitted the proposal to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on May 6, 2026, citing growing concerns over repeated attacks on African nationals living in South Africa.
According to the Ministry, the violence has led to the loss of lives and the destruction of businesses owned by African migrants, including Ghanaians.
Ghanaian authorities described the incidents as extremely troubling, especially considering the solidarity many African nations showed South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle.
In the official communication, Ghana acknowledged South Africa’s sovereign responsibility to maintain internal security but stressed that attacks targeting fellow Africans undermine the principles of continental unity and brotherhood.
The Ministry argued that the ongoing violence violates the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which South Africa is a signatory.
The Ministry further stated that the attacks threaten the broader vision of African integration and weaken the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Ghana also warned that insecurity and hostility toward foreign Africans could disrupt the free movement of people, trade, and investment across the continent, ultimately affecting economic cooperation among member states.
Honourable Ablakwa therefore requested that the matter be formally tabled at the Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, scheduled for June 2026 in El Alamein, Egypt.
The proposal additionally called for stronger monitoring mechanisms to ensure that member states comply with their obligations under the Constitutive Act of the African Union.
Ghana further urged the African Union to establish a fact-finding mission to investigate the root causes of the violence and recommend practical interventions to address the situation.
“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.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
The Government also appealed for dialogue initiatives that promote inclusion, tolerance, and integration across African societies.
Officials maintained that despite the painful legacies of slavery and colonialism, Africa’s future must be built on shared dignity, mutual respect, and collective prosperity.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry noted that the diplomatic intervention was inspired by the Pan-African ideals championed by Kwame Nkrumah, whose vision of African unity continues to shape Ghana’s foreign policy.
Copies of the request were also sent to the Chairperson of the Executive Council in Bujumbura as diplomatic attention turns toward the African Union’s response to the issue.
Ghana Pushes For Stronger Protection Of African Migrants
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed its commitment to Pan-African solidarity, describing the xenophobic attacks in South Africa as a threat to African unity and regional stability.
The Ministry stressed the urgent need to protect African nationals from violence and discrimination while noting that such attacks undermine the values of brotherhood and solidarity that form the foundation of the African Union.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued that the violence also threatens the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which depends heavily on the safe movement of people, goods, and services across borders.
“The prevailing situation of xenophobic attacks against African nationals constitutes a clear violation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which the Republic of South Africa is a State Party.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
The Ministry also emphasised that safeguarding African solidarity is essential to the continent’s democratic and economic advancement and urged member states to recommit themselves to the core principles of the African Union ahead of the organisation’s June summit in Egypt.
Honourable Ablakwa expressed confidence that the African Union would give serious attention to the matter during deliberations at the Mid-Year Coordination Meeting.
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