Diplomatic row within the African Union: South Africa thwarts Ghana's move on xenophobic violence
A dedicated discussion about the wave of attacks
Written by Amna Hassan
The corridors of the African Union witnessed a new diplomatic confrontation between South Africa and Ghana, after Pretoria managed to thwart a Ghanaian attempt to include the issue of attacks on foreigners in South Africa as a separate item on the agenda of the Union’s semi-annual coordination meeting, preferring to broaden the discussion to include the issue of migration in the entire continent.
Ghana demands a special discussion, but South Africa refuses.
The dispute began during a meeting of the Executive Council of Foreign Ministers of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Ghana has called for a dedicated discussion on the wave of attacks targeting foreign nationals inside South Africa, in an attempt to rally African support for the protection of citizens of member states.
However, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, refused to limit the issue to his country, stressing that the challenges of irregular migration represent a continental crisis that transcends the borders of any one country and requires a collective vision to address its causes.
The African Union adopts the broader vision
Ultimately, the African Union leaned towards adopting the South African position, making the issue of migration at the continental level the focus of discussion, rather than focusing solely on acts of violence against foreigners in South Africa, which was considered a diplomatic victory for Pretoria within the corridors of the continental organization.
Escalating tensions between Accra and Pretoria
This development comes amid growing tensions between the two countries in recent months, following renewed attacks targeting immigrants and foreign-owned businesses in South Africa.
Ghana was among the African countries most critical of those events, summoning the South African High Commissioner, and Ghanaian President John Mahama held talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the safety of Ghanaian citizens and businesses.
The crisis also cast a shadow over bilateral relations, after an official visit planned by President Ramaphosa to Ghana was postponed, although both sides confirmed that the decision to postpone was not directly related to the violence.
Migration is at the top of the African agenda.
South Africa asserts that the increasing waves of migration are due to conflicts, unemployment, economic crises and political instability in a number of African countries, making it a major destination for those seeking job opportunities and a better life.
In contrast, Ghana believes that protecting African citizens living outside their homelands should be a higher priority within the institutions of the African Union, considering that addressing violence against foreigners is a collective responsibility no less important than addressing the root causes of migration.
The meeting's outcomes reveal a growing trend within the African Union to treat mobility and migration issues as a strategic challenge for the continent, at a time when economic and security pressures are increasing, driving millions of Africans to migrate across borders.
