Mahama Pushes AU to Confront Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa
Ghana urges African leaders to act as AU agrees to place the growing crisis on the agenda following extraordinary summit in Accra
By Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada | July 23,2026
ACCRA, Ghana — President John Dramani Mahama has renewed Ghana’s call for the African Union (AU) to take decisive action against the escalating xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa, describing the violence as a threat to African unity and continental integration.
Speaking after bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the African Union Extraordinary Summit in Accra, President Mahama revealed that he had urged African leaders to formally address the attacks at the continental level.
According to the President, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf acknowledged the urgency of the matter and agreed that the issue should be tabled for discussion at the next African Union Summit.
The announcement comes at a time of growing concern across Africa following a wave of attacks against foreign nationals and businesses in parts of South Africa, including the killing of Ghanaian citizen Bashiru Isak in Cape Town earlier this month.
The Ghanaian government has since repatriated Mr. Isak’s remains, demanded an independent autopsy, and called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
Mahama said Ghana’s position was also conveyed directly to a special envoy dispatched by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, stressing that while Ghana harbours no ill will toward South Africa, the continued violence against foreign nationals cannot be ignored.
“We remain deeply concerned about the attacks and the significant capital losses suffered by people from various countries on the continent,” the President said.
He warned that the attacks undermine the spirit of African solidarity, which has long been central to the African Union’s vision of integration and economic cooperation.
Rather than allowing the issue to fade from public attention, Mahama said Ghana formally requested that xenophobic violence be placed on the official agenda of the next AU Summit, creating an opportunity for member states to discuss practical and long-term solutions.
According to the President, placing the matter before African leaders will also provide South Africa with a constructive platform to present its perspective while working collectively with other member states to address the root causes of the violence.
The appeal formed part of discussions during the African Union Extraordinary Summit, hosted by Ghana in Accra, where heads of state and senior officials met to deliberate on key continental governance and security issues.
Mahama concluded by urging African nations to remain united.
“Our strength as a continent lies in our unity,” he stated, reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to working with fellow AU member states to protect the dignity, safety, and investments of every African across the continent.
As pressure mounts on African leaders, Ghana’s diplomatic push is expected to keep the issue of xenophobic violence firmly on the agenda, with many hoping the next AU Summit will produce concrete measures to safeguard the rights and security of Africans living and working across the continent.
