Monday, August 31, 2026 - Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reported South Africa to the African Union over the recent xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Black Africans. 

The Nigerian President warned that the xenophobic incidents undermine the continent’s solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence. 

Tinubu also requested immediate action from African leaders, including the placement of the issue on the agenda for the 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly. 

Tinubu made the nation’s position known in a message delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) in Luanda, Angola.

Represented at the session by Vice President Shettima, the President called on the AU to place the matter on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly scheduled for January 2027, while urging African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the safety, protection and dignity of all African nationals. 

He said: “Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa. 

“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. 

“It is on this note that Nigeria calls on this august Assembly to place the matter on the agenda of the upcoming 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action.” 

Tinubu further called for stronger continental efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia. 

He added that dialogue, diplomacy, and collective action remained key to preserving African unity. 

On the security situation across the continent, Nigeria backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical roadmap for strengthening conflict prevention, arguing that preventing conflicts was cheaper and more sustainable than managing them. 

“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” Tinubu said. 

He warned that fragmented peace initiatives and increasing external interference through foreign military forces, mercenaries, and private defence contractors risk weakening the AU’s conflict prevention mechanisms and the principle of African ownership.