South Africa's xenophobic attack undermines African unity and empowers global racism – ASDEF

Recent comments by some South African nationals claiming that ‘no Ghanaians or other African migrants have faced violence or threats and that deportations strictly target "illegal residents"' are factually inaccurate and deeply troubling.

ASDEF said these denials fly in the face of documented realities on the ground. More importantly, they represent a clear violation of the spirit of unity, solidarity, and cohesion built by the founding fathers of the African Union (AU).

Our forefathers fought bitterly to liberate the continent from colonialism and apartheid with a vision of a borderless, united Africa.

In an opinion paper signed by Alhaji Khuzaima Mohammed Osman, ASDEF Executive Director, who is also an Eminent Member and Chairman of the Finance and Fundraising Committee, GARPC of the National Peace Council of Ghana and Tafidan Hausa Africa and Europe, stressed to the Modern Ghana News in Accra.

To see African brothers turning on each other in the very land that continental solidarity helped liberate is a profound betrayal of that sacred legacy.

This ongoing cycle of xenophobic hostility does more than damage local communities; it degrades the dignity of the entire continent on the global stage.

By turning violence upon fellow Africans, these actors give right-wing factions in Europe and the Americas the perfect ammunition to continue exploiting African migrants.

It validates the derogatory, "shithole" stereotypes historically used by Western supremacists to look down on the continent. When the world watches Africans brutalising other Africans, it reinforces structural racism abroad, allowing critics to argue that Africans are incapable of self-governance or mutual respect.

The narrative that African migrants are "stealing jobs" is a convenient myth. In reality, many of those perpetrating xenophobic attacks are either failing to take initiative in finding and creating their own employment or are being manipulated by local politicians.

These politicians routinely play to the political gallery, scapegoating foreign nationals to enthuse constituents frustrated by systemic economic failures.

It is far easier for a politician to point a finger at a Ghanaian or Zimbabwean entrepreneur and say, "They took your jobs," than it is to fix structural unemployment.

Conversely, the vast majority of Africans living in South Africa are law-abiding, decent individuals working tirelessly to sustain their families. Far from being a burden, these migrants are active entrepreneurs, consumers, and job creators who inject vital energy into the South African economy.

They open businesses, pay rent, trade goods, and provide services in communities that the state often neglects.

To be absolutely clear, the African Security and Development Forum (ASDEF) does not support or condone illegal migration, nor do we defend any foreign national engaged in criminal activities. Laws must be respected.

However, our point is that the South African government and its citizens must approach migration through the lens of brotherhood and shared humanity.

Many Africans fleeing to South Africa are escaping political instability, conflict, or harsh economic realities. They look to South Africa as a beacon of hope and a brother country capable of accommodating their dreams and survival.

Western nations—despite their own strict immigration debates—often display a level of institutional compassion that is sorely missing in these regional disputes.

Across Europe and America, numerous non-governmental and non-profit organisations actively support undocumented migrants.

These groups help aliens find legal pathways to document their stay, recognising that minor immigration violations are rarely premeditated crimes but rather desperate bids for survival.

Good, empathetic people worldwide support African migrants because they understand a fundamental truth: the majority of people leaving the African soil do so out of dire economic circumstances or a basic need for safety.

When South Africans resort to violence and denial, white supremacists and anti-immigrant groups in the West use it to justify their own harsh, discriminatory policies against African diaspora communities. If Africans cannot show mercy to their own kin, they lose the moral authority to demand fair treatment from the rest of the world.

South Africa must remember its history. The freedom enjoyed today was paid for with the blood, resources, and diplomatic safe havens provided by frontline states and African nations—including Ghana and Nigeria.

It is time to replace scapegoating with cooperation and honour the foundational spirit of the African Union and build a continent where every African can safely thrive.

Long live Africa with peace, stability, and development in unity and diversity.