African Union Council Rejects Ghana's Request to Address South African Xenophobia

The African Union executive council has rejected a request from Ghana to place violence against African migrants in South Africa on the agenda for the bloc's October summit. During a meeting of foreign ministers in Addis Ababa, Ghana proposed that the treatment of migrants be added to the mid-year coordination meeting scheduled for October in Egypt. The motion was not adopted.

South Africa argued that the coordination meeting, which consists of 12 heads of state representing regional blocs and the AU Bureau, is not the appropriate setting for an issue of this scope. International relations and co-operation minister Ronald Lamola stated that South Africa is engaging with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and called for a dedicated continental migration conference, referencing a 2015 AU assembly decision and a 2019 Peace and security council communique.

Ghana has previously asserted that xenophobic attacks in South Africa violate Pan-Africanism and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Ahead of a June 30 deadline set by a South African anti-migrant movement for undocumented foreigners to leave, Ghana repatriated hundreds of its citizens.

South African official Clayson Monyela stated that the AU will instead discuss migration broadly, focusing on pull and push factors. Monyela characterized the outcome as a defeat of an attempt to single out and isolate South Africa.

In related diplomatic efforts, South Africa has worked to de-escalate tensions with Nigeria over crime, migration, and a disputed traditional leadership title. Following talks in Abuja, both governments agreed to avoid hostile actions and tone down rhetoric.