The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has condemned xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa, describing the situation as a major concern for the continental body.
He has also pledged that the issue will be tabled for urgent discussion at the next AU meeting as concerns grow over attacks on foreign African nationals, including Ghanaians.
His comments follow concerns raised by President John Dramani Mahama over the impact of the attacks on Ghanaians living in South Africa.
Speaking on the issue during an official visit to the Jubilee House on Wednesday, July 22,, Mr. Youssouf said the attacks were not limited to Ghanaians but affected citizens from several African countries living in South Africa.
“The issue of xenophobic attacks on Africans, not only Ghanaians, African citizens from many countries in South Africa is something that is really a big source of concern for the Commission,” he said.
He disclosed that during a visit to South Africa about a month ago, he held discussions with President Cyril Ramaphosa and Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola on the attacks.
Mr. Youssouf said South African authorities had maintained that undocumented migrants must be dealt with through the country’s legal processes rather than through violence.
“He said if there are illegal migrants in South Africa, they have to be handled through the proper channels of the law of the country,” he said.
Despite those assurances, the AU Commission Chairperson expressed concern that people involved in harassing African migrants appeared to be operating without restraint.
“But at the same time, we see that these people who are harassing our African fellow citizens are free to do whatever they want. That’s terrible. That’s something that sometimes makes us very sad,” he said.
He also raised concerns about the response of security personnel to some of the incidents.
“And sometimes you see people in uniforms just watching what’s happening. Just next to them and they see,” he stated.
Mr. Youssouf cited the case of a Mozambican woman who, he said, destroyed her own shop rather than leave it to people seeking to take it over after she had operated the business for two decades.
President Mahama disclosed that two Ghanaian citizens had been killed and several others injured, while others had lost businesses and property. Ghana has also begun evacuating affected citizens, with the President indicating that hundreds more have voluntarily registered to return home.
President Mahama has called on the AU to take up the matter, warning that continued xenophobic violence could undermine decades of efforts towards African solidarity and continental integration.
