Nigeria and Ghana have agreed to push for the issue of “Afrophobia” to be placed on the agenda of the next African Union (AU) Summit following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks against African migrants in South Africa.
Gatekeepers News reports that the agreement was reached during a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Coordination Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The two countries said the attacks threaten the ideals of African unity and free movement across the continent.
Both ministers condemned all forms of xenophobia, Afrophobia and violence against fellow Africans, describing such actions as contrary to the principles of Pan-Africanism and regional integration. They agreed to work together to ensure the matter receives formal consideration at the next AU summit and to develop strategies for preventing similar crises across the continent.
The renewed anti-immigrant unrest in South Africa has forced thousands of African nationals to flee the country. Nigeria has evacuated about 1,490 of its citizens, while Ghana has repatriated at least 926 nationals following the attacks.
Nigeria and Ghana also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening diplomatic engagement with South Africa while urging African leaders to adopt a coordinated continental response to protect the rights and safety of citizens living and working in other African countries.
