Nigeria and Ghana have decided to consolidate their efforts to counter protests against illegal immigration taking place ahead of the African Union Summit, demonstrating a powerful front of solidarity.
This decision was reached following a bilateral meeting held during the ECOWAS Mid-Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Discussions focused on combating xenophobia and ensuring the protection of African migrants across the continent.
Recent events in South Africa have triggered a wave of protests, as some groups accuse foreign nationals, particularly compatriots, of occupying jobs and resources of local residents, further escalating tensions.
On July 17, 2026, Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bola Akinanoloye, met with Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The ministers affirmed the strength of their partnership, called for decisive diplomatic action, and renewed their commitment to achieving restorative justice for transatlantic slavery.
They emphasized the importance of the recent United Nations resolution on this matter. The ministers expressed serious concern over the recent surge in Afrophobic protests and attacks on African citizens in South Africa.
They strongly condemned all forms of xenophobia, Afrophobia, intolerance, and violence, warning that such actions threaten the foundations of Pan-Africanism, regional unity, the ideals of the African Union, and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The ministers also stressed that migrants accused of crimes should be viewed through the lens of the rule of law, not through mob violence. By standing together at the diplomatic level and advocating for legal protection, they aim to assure African migrants that their safety and rights are paramount.
These commitments should stimulate deeper cooperation between governments and local authorities, paving the way for enhanced security, improved support services, and the creation of a safer environment for migrants facing discrimination or violence. The ministers pledged to work jointly with other African Union member states to strengthen monitoring, establish early warning systems, and employ preventive diplomacy to address future challenges.
They strongly urged all member states to uphold Pan-Africanism, mutual respect, and the free movement of people. Furthermore, they supported current public education and dialogue, confirming their readiness to act jointly through ECOWAS, the African Union, and other international organizations.
In May and June 2026, the Ghana Border Control Agency and the High Commission of Ghana organized voluntary repatriations, processing 963 Ghanaian citizens leaving South Africa under various operations, according to IOL.
Between June 10 and July 15, 2026, Nigeria evacuated and repatriated 1,490 South African citizens. This official evacuation followed an increase in anti-immigration demonstrations and pressure on undocumented foreign nationals.
Notably, the South African Department of Home Affairs officially deported and banned 586 illegal Nigerian citizens from entering the country for five years.
The South African government firmly rejects the label of a xenophobic nation. Official statements assert that public protests and government actions are aimed solely at addressing issues of illegal immigration and crime, not at the foreign nationals themselves.
Migration expert Gideon Chitanga from the Centre for African Chinese Studies at the University of Johannesburg urged African countries to refrain from spreading divisive narratives that fuel tension and to support hostile groups or organizations within Africa, specific countries, or communities.
Chitanga noted that the South African government is discussing its efforts to resolve these issues. He advised other African governments to support local initiatives for resolving complex immigration matters in South Africa, to cooperate closely with South African institutions for their lawful resolution, and to coordinate their actions.
Chitanga added that the protests contribute to division and create significant obstacles to continental economic integration, urging leaders to carefully consider whether to foster such division. He concluded that concerted action by African countries to address both domestic and continental socio-economic and security issues would significantly help in solving the problem of illegal immigration.
The South African government stated that Ghana is at the center of a growing dispute related to claims of isolating the country due to its policy on illegal immigration.
The Presidency expressed concern that South Africa is being subjected to a coordinated campaign aimed at separating it from the rest of the continent following tensions arising around protests against illegal immigration. The Presidency representative, Vincent Magwenya, voiced these remarks during a press briefing at the Union Buildings on Wednesday.
Despite increasing criticism regarding its immigration stance, Magwenya emphasized that South Africa remains committed to cooperating with African partners to build a more prosperous and stronger continent. These statements came amid the ongoing voluntary repatriation of undocumented migrants, which has drawn negative reactions in several African countries.
According to Magwenya, over the past two months, the government has observed a sustained campaign whose goal was to isolate South Africa from the continent under the pretext of protests against the recent wave of demonstrations against illegal immigration. He reported that this campaign attempted to create the impression that South Africa had become an outcast that should be handed over to international courts.
Magwenya noted that this occurs despite numerous official government statements condemning acts of vigilantism against foreigners, confirming the state's primary role in enforcing immigration law, and reaffirming commitment to the rule of law. The government is particularly concerned about the spread of false information, which, according to his description, is promoted by a diplomatic representative who has become a central figure in this campaign.
He added that even routine diplomatic contacts concerning meetings are intentionally distorted to create the appearance of South Africa's isolation. The government firmly rejects and warns against the dissemination of inaccurate information about South Africa, stating that any campaign seeking to distort the essence and representation of South Africa will be met with extreme disdain.
Magwenya stated that recent evidence shows that this false campaign, however controversial, is weakening, and South Africa is not isolated. He confirmed that the country remains closely connected to the African continent and the rest of the world. When asked if he was referring to the Ghanaian government, Magwenya confirmed it. He reported that concerns were directly expressed to the High Commissioner of Ghana by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Furthermore, ministers, particularly the Minister of Justice Kubayi, chairing the IMC, urged the High Commissioner to make efforts to verify the information he publishes by engaging with relevant authorities.
>The Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs of Mozambique, Mateus Sizze, stated that transitional justice is not limited to analyzing the past but serves as a tool for building a future aimed at promoting truth, reconciliation, accountability, reparations for victims, and creating guarantees against the recurrence of violence and conflict.
The National Conference on the Future of Transitional Justice in Mozambique was organized by the Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, together with the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway, the Embassy of Switzerland, and the Transformative Peace Program in Africa from the Open Society Foundation. The event gathered judges, lawyers, academics, students, civil society representatives, and diplomats to discuss mechanisms for strengthening peace and institutions.
Transitional justice is a set of measures used to respond to serious human rights violations, armed conflicts, political violence, or periods of repression, with the aim of ensuring peace, reconciliation, and preventing similar events from happening again. Mateus Sizze added that the true goal of this approach is to strengthen democratic institutions, increase public trust, and foster a culture of respect for human rights, legality, and dialogue, creating conditions for a more unified, just, and inclusive life for future generations.
Minister of Internal Affairs Paulo Chichine emphasized that the country's history of conflicts, including events after the general elections that resulted in the deaths of over 400 people and significant destruction, demonstrates that peace requires a constant commitment to dialogue, inclusivity, legality, and institutional strengthening. He noted that this conference complements the National Inclusive Dialogue, and stated that peace cannot be viewed as a final victory, as it requires continuous work on dialogue, legality, inclusivity, and institutional reinforcement.
Chichine also pointed out that transitional justice can contribute to institutional reforms aimed at professionalizing state structures, increasing transparency, accountability, and strengthening trust between citizens and the state. He also supported the need for continuous investment in training security forces on human rights and democratic management of public order.
Executive Director of CDD Adriano Nuvunga insisted that trust is the foundation of democracy, warning that the weakening of institutions contributes to political polarization and increases the risk of new cycles of violence. He stated: 'There is no democracy without trust. There is no rule of law without trust. There is no sustainable development without trust (...) there is no trust without accountability.' Nuvunga added that transitional justice must promote the establishment of truth, memory preservation, reparations, and institutional reforms capable of stopping the recurrence of past abuses.
According to the organizers, the conference aims to develop recommendations to support state policy focused on conflict prevention, human rights protection, strengthening the rule of law, and consolidating democratic governance, thereby contributing to long-term peace and strengthening trust in institutions.
