An international relations expert, Lord Mawuko-Yevugah, has advised African leaders to escalate the persistent xenophobic attacks in South Africa to the regional bloc.
Mawuko-Yevugah believes it is time other leaders on the continent make their position on the matter clear to the South African government for action to be taken to bring finality to the recurring sorry development.
His comments come on the back of a recent viral video on social media where dozens of South Africans are found physically assaulting some foreigners and harassing others, including Ghanaians.
According to the residents, these foreigners have taken over their jobs and are calling for job opportunities to be prioritised for locals.
Speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the international relations expert stressed the need for African leaders to see to it that the South African government makes some commitments regarding the attacks and stick to them.
He said the leadership could use the upcoming summit in South Africa as a medium to express their concerns over the matter.
“That summit that they want to have with the African heads of states or African leaders in South Africa will be a good opportunity for African leaders to express their concerns with these ritualistic things happening every year,” he stated, advising there are proper diplomatic approach to the issue rather than resorting to violence.
“Then after that South Africa have to make commitments. You have an obligation to protect people who are in your country. If some of them are illegal, you have the right to take them out. But it cannot be the case that you sit down as government and allow these attacks to be happening every year,” he stated.
According to him, it is time the bloc’s leadership called the South African government to order, questioning whether they will be okay if their citizens also being attacked in other countries.
“I think that it can be escalated to the African Union level where African countries would make their positions clear to the African Union, so that they can call South African government to order and give instructions that your citizens are also in other people’s countries, will you be happy if they are also going to be attacked?”
International Relations Expert calls on South African gov’t to act on xenophobic attacks
