Tinubu urges ECOWAS to condemn South Africa attacks on Nigerians
President Bola Tinubu urged African leaders to jointly condemn the ongoing attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Freetown, Sierra Leone on Sunday, July 20, 2026. Tinubu condemned the attacks in the strongest terms and called for a united African voice to table the issue at the next African Union summit. He disclosed that Nigeria has already evacuated more than 1,490 Nigerians from South Africa in seven separate batches and remains ready to take further action if needed. The President also reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for the newly launched ECOWAS Compact for the Future of Regional Integration, saying it would rebuild trust in regional institutions and keep integration relevant amid global challenges.
The attacks have repeatedly strained Nigeria‑South Africa relations and triggered previous evacuations, highlighting the risks faced by Nigerians abroad. A coordinated ECOWAS response could pressure South African authorities to act and deter future xenophobic incidents, directly affecting the safety of Nigerians living, working, or studying in South Africa.
Will you check your travel plans or support stronger diplomatic action if you have family or contacts in South Africa, or do you trust diplomatic channels to resolve the issue without personal impact?