President Bola Tinubu has called on the African Union (AU) to take urgent steps to address recurring xenophobic attacks against Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa, warning that such incidents threaten continental solidarity and peaceful coexistence.

Tinubu made the call on Sunday in a speech delivered by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Luanda, Angola.

The President urged the AU to place Nigeria’s concerns over the attacks on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session scheduled for January 2027.

“It is on this note that Nigeria calls on this august Assembly to place the matter on the agenda,” NAN quoted Tinubu as saying.

He said the recurring attacks undermine African unity and solidarity, stressing that continental leaders must adopt a collective approach to addressing xenophobia and Afrophobia.

While recognising South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and acknowledging its contributions to Africa’s development, Tinubu urged African countries to safeguard the safety, dignity and fundamental rights of their citizens across national borders.

He advocated increased reliance on dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action to tackle xenophobia and promote peaceful coexistence among Africans.

On continental peace and security, Tinubu backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan, describing conflict prevention as a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to addressing crises in Africa.

“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” he said.

The President warned that fragmented peace initiatives and growing dependence on foreign military forces, mercenaries and private defence contractors could undermine African-led efforts to resolve conflicts.

“The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” he said.

Tinubu also urged arms-producing and exporting countries to strengthen cooperation with African states to prevent weapons and ammunition from reaching terrorist organisations and other non-state armed groups.

He noted that although the AU has established mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, their effectiveness has been constrained by limited trust and inconsistent implementation.

The President therefore called on AU member states to deepen cooperation and assume greater collective responsibility for safeguarding peace, security and stability across the continent.