Nigeria, Ghana to cooperate against xenophobia in Africa

Nigeria and Ghana have pledged to work together to combat the escalating xenophobic attacks targeting African nationals continent-wide. This joint commitment emerged amidst growing diplomatic tensions, largely fueled by recent waves of anti-immigrant violence in South Africa, which have drawn widespread condemnation.

The agreement was forged during a bilateral meeting between Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, and Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Ablakwa. The discussions, held on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, focused on the implications of xenophobic violence for Pan-Africanism and continental unity.

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Migrants should not be subjected to mob violence or collective punishment based on their nationality.

In a joint statement, the diplomats condemned xenophobia, Afrophobia, and all forms of violence against fellow Africans. They stressed that migrants should not face mob violence or collective punishment based on their nationality, asserting that such actions undermine the African Union's vision of unity, the free movement of people, and the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

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They underscored the need for urgent, coordinated regional and continental responses to address the root causes of these tensions, protect the lives and dignity of African migrants, and promote harmonious coexistence.

Both nations underscored the urgent need for coordinated regional and continental responses to address the root causes of these tensions. They emphasized protecting the lives and dignity of African migrants and promoting harmonious coexistence. The ministers also highlighted the importance of treating criminals within migrant populations according to the rule of law, rather than subjecting them to mob violence, which often affects even regular and law-abiding citizens.

Nigeria also voiced support for Ghana's successful UN resolution on the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which recognized it as a crime against humanity and called for reparations. Nigeria aligns with the quest for reparative justice for Africans globally, reinforcing the shared commitment to addressing historical injustices and fostering continental progress.

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Nigeria aligns with and fully supports the decisions of the Conference in the quest for reparative justice for Africans.