African Leaders Must Sanction South Africa For Xenophobia

As I watched Ghanaians arrive from South Africa, I felt a mix of relief and disappointment. On one hand, I was grateful that these compatriots had been evacuated and spared from further humiliation and danger. No African should have to endure xenophobic attacks on another African soil, especially in a country that owes so much to the solidarity of the continent during its darkest years.

On the other hand, I felt deep sadness that South Africa could perpetrate such inhumane acts against fellow Africans. This is particularly painful given South Africa’s history and the role Ghana played in leading the fight against apartheid and racial discrimination. Ghana stood firmly with the African National Congress and the people of South Africa when they needed support the most. It is disheartening that those sacrifices and that shared struggle seem to have been forgotten so quickly.

The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, deserves commendation for intervening and ensuring the safe evacuation of our citizens. However, this should not be where the response ends. The incident raises a broader question about African unity and the responsibility of leaders to protect Africans wherever they are.

I believe it is time for African leaders, under the African Union, to come together and take a firm stance. Diplomatic engagement is important, but it must be backed by concrete measures. Imposing targeted sanctions, suspending preferential trade agreements, and reviewing bilateral cooperation until concrete steps are taken to end xenophobia. This would send a clear message that attacks on Africans by Africans will not be tolerated.

African unity is not just a slogan from the past. It must be lived in our actions today. If we fail to hold each other accountable, we weaken the very idea of “Africa for Africans” that our forebears fought for.

Denis Andaban
The Village Boy From DBI