Tinubu urges African unity vs SA xenophobia, cites 1,490 Nigerians evacuated
President Bola Tinubu urged African leaders to present a united front against the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, condemning the violence as contrary to African solidarity. Speaking at the 69th ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government summit in Sierra Leone, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, he said Nigeria has evacuated over 1,490 of its citizens from South Africa in seven batches, with the final group arriving in Lagos last week. Tinubu called on ECOWAS to escalate the matter to the African Union and present a collective condemnation.
This matters to Nigerians because attacks on nationals abroad threaten lives, disrupt remittance flows, and test regional unity. The evacuation shows the government’s duty to protect citizens abroad, while a coordinated AU/ECOWAS response could lead to stronger protections for Africans traveling or working in South Africa. Tinubu also linked the issue to broader regional goals, urging deeper security cooperation, removal of trade barriers, and digital transformation under the ECOWAS Compact for the Future.
How might a stronger regional stance affect your safety or business ties with South Africa? Stay informed through official embassy channels and consider how regional integration policies could open new opportunities for work, trade, or education across West Africa.