Nigeria and Ghana have committed to strengthening their partnership to resolve the rising frequency of anti-African demonstrations and violent attacks against citizens from across the continent. Both nations intend to push for this subject to be prioritized at the upcoming African Union Summit.
This initiative follows a bilateral discussion in Freetown, Sierra Leone, between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and Ghana’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, during the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit. In a formal statement, the ministries highlighted their mutual alarm regarding xenophobic incidents in South Africa, which they believe threaten regional integration and the movement of people.
Both representatives condemned the intolerance and violence, emphasizing that these actions contradict the principles of Pan-Africanism and the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area. They advocated for a unified continental strategy to identify underlying causes of these tensions, ensure migrant safety, and foster peaceful coexistence. Furthermore, they asserted that while illegal behavior by migrants should be addressed via legal channels, it must never serve as a justification for mob violence against innocent individuals.
Looking ahead, the ministers agreed to urge the African Union to implement improved monitoring and early warning systems. Beyond the immediate issue of xenophobia, the two countries reaffirmed their historical bond and support for initiatives regarding reparative justice for the historical impacts of the slave trade. They concluded by pledging continued collaboration within ECOWAS and the African Union to foster a stable and prosperous Africa.
