President Bola Tinubu has formally reported recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa to the African Union, requesting collective action on the issue. The report was delivered on 31 August 2026 by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola.
The development was disclosed in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication. Tinubu called for urgent attention from continental leaders, warning that the attacks undermine African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence.
Tinubu acknowledged South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws. He nevertheless said violence and hostility against Africans required urgent continental attention, according to the account of his report provided in the statement.
The Nigerian president requested that the African Union place the matter on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, scheduled for January 2027. He also urged African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the safety, protection and dignity of all African nationals.
The report concerns attacks described as xenophobic and Afrophobic in South Africa and includes references to violence and hostility against Africans and other nationals. The available account does not provide details on the number of incidents, their locations or any responses from South African authorities.
The matter was reported by news outlets including the News Agency of Nigeria and Vanguard News. The African Union’s response to Tinubu’s request was not included in the supplied information.