Kwasi Kwarteng, a member of the NPP’s National Communications Team, has urged the African Union (AU) to summon South Africa immediately following renewed xenophobic attacks that have sparked outrage across the continent.
In his remarks, Kwarteng condemned the violent targeting of African migrants, stressing that xenophobia undermines the spirit of African unity and betrays the vision of continental integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He argued that the AU cannot remain silent while African citizens are harassed, attacked, and their businesses destroyed in South Africa.
“The AU, as a matter of urgency, should summon South Africa. These attacks are not just against foreign nationals, they are an assault on Pan-Africanism itself,” Kwarteng declared.
Reports from Johannesburg, Durban, and Pretoria detail fresh waves of xenophobic incidents, with foreign-owned shops looted and migrants assaulted. Victims include nationals from Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and other African countries. Ghana’s government has already begun evacuation efforts, with hundreds of citizens returning home after facing hostility.
Kwarteng commended Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, for petitioning the AU to place xenophobia on the agenda of the upcoming Eighth AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Cairo. However, he stressed that diplomatic pressure must be intensified. He argued that xenophobia is rooted in structural economic challenges and political manipulation in South Africa, where politicians often weaponize anti-foreigner sentiments during election cycles to deflect blame from unemployment and poverty.
His call adds weight to demands for AU intervention, signaling that African governments must hold South Africa accountable. Analysts warn that xenophobia undermines AfCFTA’s goals, erodes trust among African nations, and threatens continental unity.
For Kwarteng, the issue is clear: Africa’s unity cannot survive if one of its largest economies continues to allow violence against fellow Africans. His demand reflects a broader call for continental accountability and decisive leadership. The renewed xenophobic attacks have reignited debate about whether African institutions are prepared to defend the principles of solidarity, good governance, and Pan-Africanism in practice, not just in rhetoric.
