'Don't sweep it under the carpet' – President Mahama insists AU must act on South Africa's xenophobic attacks

President John Dramani Mahama has intensified his appeal to the African Union (AU) to confront the escalating waves of anti-immigrant violence in South Africa. He stressed that Ghana maintains positive relations with South Africa but remains profoundly concerned about the attacks and the significant financial losses incurred by foreign nationals.

Mahama's remarks follow a petition by two Ghanaians to the International Criminal Court (ICC) seeking an investigation into the "repeated xenophobic attacks" in South Africa. Pretoria has characterized this ICC petition as "opportunistic."

“

Placing this on the AU agenda gives South Africa a formal, constructive platform to share its perspective, and together, as a continent, work toward a lasting solution.

South Africa has recently experienced weeks of protests and unrest targeting immigrants, who are often blamed for taking jobs and consuming resources. This violence has led to the departure of over 160,000 foreign nationals and several deaths in the past two months, straining Pretoria's relationships with other African governments.

Ghana had previously urged the AU to debate the violence in May. Mahama noted that AU Commission chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf acknowledged the "urgent need" to discuss the issue at the bloc's upcoming summit in February. Mahama believes placing the matter on the AU agenda will provide South Africa a formal platform to share its perspective and foster a continental solution.

During a meeting with the AU chief on the sidelines of an AU event in Accra, Mahama expressed that South African authorities did not seem to be responding with the expected magnitude. He reiterated Ghana's commitment to continental unity, stating, "We do not harbour ill will toward South Africa. However, we remain deeply concerned about the attacks and the significant capital losses suffered by people from various countries on the continent. This undermines the very spirit of African solidarity and our collective efforts toward continental integration."

“

we see that these people who are harassing our African fellow citizens are free to do what they want

AU Commission chairperson Youssouf acknowledged the violence as a "big source of concern" and mentioned a prior meeting with South Africa's foreign minister, Ronald Lamola. Lamola had stated that illegal migrants should be processed through legal channels. Despite these assurances, Youssouf observed that individuals harassing African citizens appeared to act with impunity.

Earlier in the month, Ghana postponed a planned visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to Accra following the death of a Ghanaian national. South African authorities, however, maintained that the killing was unrelated to the anti-immigrant protests. Ramaphosa subsequently dispatched his foreign minister, Lamola, to meet with Mahama, who conveyed Ghana's deep concern over the violence and its economic impact on Africans.

“

We do not harbour ill will toward South Africa. However, we remain deeply concerned about the attacks and the significant capital losses suffered by people from various countries on the continent. This undermines the very spirit of African solidarity and our collective efforts toward continental integration.