Vice President Kashim Shettima has escalated Nigeria’s concerns over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa to the African Union, calling for urgent collective action to protect Africans and preserve continental unity.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has formally raised the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa before the African Union (AU), warning that the incidents threaten the principles of African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence.
Shettima, who represented Nigeria at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Luanda, Angola, urged African leaders to place the issue on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly scheduled for January 2027.
Shettima stressed that while Nigeria recognises South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and acknowledges the country’s contributions to the continent, attacks targeting Africans and other nationals cannot be ignored.
“Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa,” Shettima said.
He added that such attacks “undermine African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence” and therefore require urgent collective attention.
The Vice President called on the AU to take appropriate action while urging African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the safety, protection and dignity of all African nationals.
Shettima also advocated stronger continental efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia, identifying dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action as critical tools for preserving peace and unity across Africa.
On the broader security challenges confronting the continent, Shettima expressed Nigeria’s support for the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical framework for strengthening conflict prevention across Africa.
He argued that preventing conflicts remains more sustainable and cost-effective than managing them after violence has erupted.
“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” he said.
The Vice President, however, expressed concern over the fragmentation of peace initiatives and the growing involvement of external military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors in African conflicts.
According to him, excessive reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and undermining the principle of African ownership of the continent’s peace and security agenda.
Shettima also called on arms-producing and exporting countries to deepen cooperation with African states and take stronger measures to prevent weapons and ammunition produced within their jurisdictions from being diverted to terrorists and other non-state armed groups.
The Vice President acknowledged that the African Union has established mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts but noted that limited trust among member states and inconsistent implementation continue to weaken their effectiveness.
He urged African countries to renew their commitment to collective responsibility for maintaining peace and security on the continent.
Nigeria also backed sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations, as well as the full operationalisation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, which is aimed at strengthening the AU’s capacity to respond effectively to conflicts and crises.
Shettima ultimately called on African leaders to prioritise home-grown solutions, stronger cooperation and shared responsibility in addressing 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,” Shettima said.