President Tinubu
Susan Abayomi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the African Union (AU) to take urgent collective action over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa, warning that such incidents threaten the dignity, safety and unity of Africans across the continent.
The President also cautioned African leaders against increasing reliance on foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors to address the continent’s security challenges, stressing that excessive dependence on external actors could undermine Africa’s ownership of its peace and security agenda.
Tinubu made the call through Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola.
The President urged African leaders to treat attacks targeting Africans in South Africa as a continental concern capable of undermining solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence among member states.
According to a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Tinubu specifically requested that the AU place the issue on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly scheduled for January 2027.
“Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa,” Tinubu said in a message delivered by Shettima.
While acknowledging South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and recognising its contributions to the continent, the President said attacks against Africans should not be treated solely as an internal matter.
“While recognising South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and acknowledging its contributions to the continent, Nigeria stresses that such attacks undermine African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence and require urgent collective attention,” he said.
Tinubu urged African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to protecting the safety, dignity and rights of all African nationals, irrespective of their countries of origin.
He also called for stronger continental mechanisms to address xenophobia and Afrophobia, stressing the importance of dialogue, preventive diplomacy and coordinated action in preserving peace and unity across Africa.
Tinubu Warns Against Foreign Control of Africa’s Security
Beyond the issue of xenophobic attacks, the President used the AU summit to advocate stronger African-led responses to the continent’s growing security challenges.
He called for renewed commitment to home-grown solutions, deeper cooperation and collective responsibility in addressing conflicts across Africa.
Nigeria supported the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical framework for strengthening conflict prevention efforts across the continent.
Tinubu noted that preventing conflicts is more sustainable and cost-effective than managing them after they have escalated into full-scale crises.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” he said.
The President, however, warned that fragmented peace initiatives and growing reliance on foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors could weaken the AU’s conflict-prevention architecture and undermine the principle of African ownership.
“The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” he warned.
He therefore urged African countries to strengthen their own institutions and regional mechanisms for resolving conflicts instead of becoming increasingly dependent on external actors.
Call for Tighter Arms Control
Tinubu also appealed to countries that manufacture and export arms to strengthen cooperation with African states to prevent weapons and ammunition produced within their territories from reaching terrorists and other non-state armed groups.
According to him, the AU already has mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, but their effectiveness has been limited by insufficient trust among member states and inconsistent implementation.
He consequently called for renewed political commitment to collective responsibility for peace and security across the continent.
Nigeria also backed sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations, as well as the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, which provides a framework for strengthening the financing and effectiveness of AU-led peace support operations.
Tinubu said improved and reliable financing would enhance the AU’s capacity to respond effectively to conflicts and crises while reducing excessive dependence on external actors.
The President urged African leaders to renew their commitment to home-grown solutions, stronger cooperation and shared responsibility in tackling the continent’s security challenges.
“Let us, therefore, renew our collective commitment to solidarity, cooperation and shared responsibility as we build the Africa we want,” he said.
