Nigeria Demands AU Classify Xenophobic Violence as Core Security Threat

July 9, 2026 4 min read

Nigeria has formally called on the African Union to designate xenophobic violence as a top-tier security priority for the continent, escalating pressure on regional leaders to confront persistent waves of attacks against foreign nationals in multiple African countries. The foreign affairs ministry in Abuja submitted the request during an AU summit session focused on peace and security, according to officials familiar with the deliberations.

Abuja's Formal Submission to the AU

The Nigerian government used the AU platform to argue that xenophobic attacks constitute a direct threat to the free movement of people guaranteed under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework. Foreign Affairs officials told reporters the designation would unlock additional funding mechanisms and enable faster regional responses when violence erupts against foreign nationals. Nigeria's permanent representative to the AU, Ambassador Chimere Haana, presented the position during a closed session on continental security reform.

The request builds on years of diplomatic pressure from Lagos, which has repeatedly condemned attacks targeting Nigerians in South Africa and other nations. Nigerian communities abroad have long pushed for stronger government action after incidents of mob violence, arbitrary arrests, and property destruction targeting their nationals.

Why Xenophobic Violence Keeps Resurfacing

South Africa has experienced the most visible wave of xenophobic attacks, with incidents in 2008, 2015, and 2019 drawing international condemnation. In the 2019 episode alone, police recorded more than 600 violent incidents across Gauteng province. Shops were looted, homes burned, and at least a dozen people killed before the military intervened to restore order.

Economists point to persistent unemployment, which sits above 30 percent in several Southern African Development Community nations, as a driver of resentment toward foreign traders. Anti-immigrant rhetoric from political figures has also intensified in recent years, with campaign messaging frequently blaming foreign nationals for economic hardship.

Impact on Nigerian Communities Abroad

During the 2019 attacks, the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria reported that more than 200 Nigerian-owned businesses were destroyed. Thousands of Nigerians fled to emergency shelters operated by the diaspora community, with some choosing to return home entirely. The Nigeria Immigration Service later set up a repatriation programme that assisted approximately 3,000 nationals in the weeks following the worst violence.

Families of those killed in previous attacks have formed advocacy groups that maintain constant pressure on Abuja to push for international accountability. These groups have attended AU sessions as observers, pushing for legal frameworks that would criminalise xenophobic incitement across all member states.

The AU's Current Framework and Its Limits

The African Union already maintains a Peace and Security Council that monitors conflicts across the continent. However, officials acknowledge that xenophobic violence has historically been treated as a domestic law enforcement matter rather than a cross-border security concern. This classification affects how quickly regional resources can be mobilised and limits the diplomatic leverage available to AU mediators.

Human rights organisations have repeatedly argued that this distinction creates dangerous gaps. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights issued a special report in 2022 noting that member states lack consistent legal definitions of xenophobic violence, making prosecution difficult even when evidence exists. Nigeria's current proposal directly addresses this definitional problem by calling for a unified continental standard.

Diplomatic Reactions from Member States

Several Southern African nations have expressed reservations about classifying xenophobic violence as a continental security matter. Their delegations argue that such a designation could be used to interfere in domestic affairs and undermine national sovereignty. South Africa's foreign ministry issued a statement emphasising that the government had strengthened its own legislation and increased police patrols in affected areas.

East African Community nations have shown more openness to the proposal, with Uganda's representative indicating support for any framework that protects citizens working across borders. West African states largely backed Nigeria's position, noting that millions of their nationals operate in regional economies and face similar risks of targeted violence.

Economic Stakes for Continental Trade

Nigeria's push comes at a time when the African Continental Free Trade Area is attempting to increase cross-border commerce. Free movement of goods and services depends partly on workers feeling safe enough to operate in foreign markets. Business councils have warned that persistent xenophobic violence undermines confidence in regional integration, particularly for small traders who lack the resources to relocate after attacks.

The AfCFTA secretariat has not issued a formal response to Nigeria's proposal, though officials indicated the matter would be forwarded to relevant committees for review. Trade ministers from across the continent are scheduled to meet in Addis Ababa next quarter to assess progress on the agreement's implementation.

What Happens Next

The African Union's Peace and Security Council will deliberate on Nigeria's proposal during its next scheduled meeting in six weeks. If approved for discussion, the matter would advance to a full heads-of-state summit for a binding decision. Nigeria's foreign ministry has indicated it will lobby individual member states directly in the interim, deploying diplomats to capitals across all five African regions.

Citizen groups focused on diaspora rights plan to hold demonstrations outside AU offices in Addis Ababa during the deliberation period. They want the council to adopt a timeline for implementation rather than simply referring the proposal for further study. The outcome will determine whether xenophobic violence receives the same rapid-response treatment currently afforded to armed conflicts and coup attempts across the continent.