The Government of Ghana has formally petitioned the African Union (AU) to place the growing wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa on the agenda of the upcoming Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of African Heads of State, in what analysts describe as one of the strongest diplomatic responses yet to the recurring violence against African migrants.
In a formal diplomatic letter dated May 6, 2026, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, urged the AU Commission to treat the matter as “an urgent continental interest,” warning that continued attacks against Africans in South Africa threaten the ideals of Pan-Africanism, regional integration, and Africa’s long-standing vision of unity.
The petition comes amid renewed anti-immigrant demonstrations and violent attacks in parts of South Africa, particularly in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and KwaZulu-Natal, where African migrants have reported intimidation, assaults, looting of businesses, and threats to leave the country.
The Ghanaian government said the attacks had led to “loss of lives, destruction of investments and continue to pose serious risk to the safety and wellbeing of many African nationals residing in South Africa.”
The diplomatic move follows a viral video showing a Ghanaian man allegedly being harassed during recent xenophobic incidents in South Africa. Ghana later facilitated his safe return home, according to Reuters.
Ghana Pushes AU for Continental Action
In the strongly-worded petition addressed to the Chairperson of the AU Commission in Addis Ababa, Ghana argued that the recurring violence directly contradicts the principles underpinning the African Union and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“It is particularly troubling that manifestations of xenophobia, including violent attacks against fellow Africans, have persisted in recent years,” portions of the letter stated.
The government proposed several measures for continental action, including:
Stronger AU monitoring mechanisms to ensure member states uphold human rights obligations;
A continental fact-finding mission to investigate the root causes of xenophobic violence in South Africa;
Enhanced dialogue, reconciliation and tolerance-building programmes among African communities;
Renewed commitment to the African Union’s free movement and integration agenda.
Ghana further warned that the attacks undermine decades of African solidarity that helped dismantle apartheid in South Africa.
“The Government of Ghana firmly believes that, notwithstanding the painful legacy of slavery, colonialism, and apartheid, Africa’s future is one of shared dignity, prosperity, and mutual respect,” the letter stressed.
Referencing Ghana’s founding President, Kwame Nkrumah, the government added:
“As Ghana’s founder and renowned Pan-Africanist Osagyefo Dr. Kwame 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.”
Growing Regional Tensions
Ghana is not alone in expressing concern.
Reuters reported that several African countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria, have issued advisories to their citizens in South Africa amid fears of escalating violence.
Nigeria’s government confirmed that at least 130 Nigerians requested repatriation assistance after violent protests targeting foreigners intensified. Nigerian authorities also raised concerns over the deaths of two Nigerian nationals allegedly linked to security operations.
South Africa’s unemployment crisis — officially above 30 percent according to Statistics South Africa — has increasingly fueled anti-migrant rhetoric, with foreign nationals often blamed for crime, job scarcity, and pressure on public services.
However, migrant rights groups and human rights experts argue that migrants are being scapegoated for deeper structural economic failures, inequality, corruption, and governance challenges.
The xenophobic sentiment has also been amplified by controversial anti-immigrant groups such as Operation Dudula, which has repeatedly campaigned against undocumented migrants and foreign-owned businesses.
Human Rights Commission Raises Alarm
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights recently condemned the attacks, describing them as part of a “longstanding pattern of xenophobic violence” in South Africa.
In an official statement issued on April 27, 2026, the Commission’s Country Rapporteur on South Africa, Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, expressed “grave concern” over assaults and intimidation allegedly carried out by vigilante groups targeting African migrants.
The Commission recalled previous waves of xenophobic violence, including:
The 2008 nationwide attacks that killed more than 60 people and displaced over 100,000;
The 2015 violence that required military intervention;
Continued incidents in the 2020s linked to anti-migrant campaigns.
The Commission stated that such attacks potentially violate Articles 3, 4, 5, 12, 14 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, including protections relating to equality, dignity, security, property, and freedom from discrimination.
South African Government Responds
The South African government has publicly condemned the attacks and pledged tougher enforcement against perpetrators.
Reuters reported that South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, warned that xenophobic violence threatens the constitutional foundations of the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also repeatedly condemned violence against foreign nationals, reminding South Africans that many African countries supported the anti-apartheid struggle during decades of racial oppression.
According to Reuters, South African police authorities have promised to identify and prosecute individuals involved in the attacks or incitement campaigns targeting migrants.
Yet many analysts believe official condemnations have not translated into sufficient long-term protection for foreign nationals.
Experts Say Xenophobia Threatens African Integration
Political analysts and migration experts warn that the resurgence of xenophobia could seriously damage Africa’s integration agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The AfCFTA, headquartered in Accra, seeks to deepen intra-African trade, labour mobility, and economic cooperation across the continent.
Experts say recurring anti-migrant violence creates fear among investors, entrepreneurs, traders, and skilled professionals seeking opportunities across African borders.
Human rights researchers have consistently linked xenophobic tensions in South Africa to economic frustrations, inequality, urban poverty, and political populism.
Public sentiment reflected in online discussions and community forums shows deep divisions, with some South Africans blaming migrants for socio-economic hardship, while others insist foreigners are unfairly targeted.
Some South African civil society organisations, labour activists, churches, and constitutional lawyers have openly criticized anti-migrant campaigns, arguing they contradict the country’s democratic and anti-apartheid values.
Ghana’s Diplomatic Pressure Signals Broader African Frustration
Observers say Ghana’s decision to escalate the matter to the African Union represents a significant diplomatic development.
For years, African governments largely handled xenophobic incidents through bilateral diplomatic channels. Ghana’s latest action signals growing continental frustration over repeated attacks that continue despite previous condemnations.
Political groups within Ghana have also mounted pressure on the AU to act decisively.
The Convention People’s Party recently urged the AU to “call South Africa to order,” describing the attacks as unacceptable and incompatible with African unity.
With the AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting scheduled for June 24–27, 2026, in El Alamein, Egypt, attention is now turning to whether African leaders will adopt stronger continental mechanisms to address xenophobia, migrant protection, and regional accountability.
For many Africans watching the crisis unfold, the debate extends beyond migration and borders. It strikes at the core question of whether Pan-African solidarity can survive rising nationalism, economic pressure, and political tensions within the continent itself.