A leading migrant rights organisation has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as “coordinated xenophobic attacks against Black migrants, including Nigerians and other African nationals, across several parts of South Africa, highlighting the ongoing issue of Xenophobic attacks in South Africa.”
The Concerned Nigerians and Migrants Forum (CNMF) said it had received disturbing reports of looting of migrant-owned businesses, physical assault, and in some tragic cases, loss of life.
In a statement released on Saturday, the group described the violence as criminal and a grave violation of the African Union’s principles of unity, solidarity, and the free movement of people.
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The CNMF unequivocally condemned the attacks, stating that violence against fellow Africans based on nationality or perceived economic competition is unacceptable.
The group reminded all parties that the strength of the African people lies in their diversity and shared history of anti-apartheid and anti-colonial struggle.
The organisation has made several demands to different bodies in response to the crisis. It called on the South African government to launch an immediate and transparent investigation into the attacks.
The CNMF insisted that perpetrators must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Furthermore, the group demanded adequate compensation nd medical care for victims, as well as the swift recovery of stolen properties.
Turning to continental bodies, the CNMF urged African Union leadership to activate the African Peer Review Mechanism and hold an emergency session on Xenophobia.
It also called on Nigeria and other affected countries to demand a binding continental protocol that would prevent state-sponsored or state-tolerated xenophobia across Africa.
The forum also addressed the Nigerian government directly, calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide immediate consular protection for affected Nigerians.
This includes emergency evacuation for those who wish to leave South Africa, as well as diplomatic engagement with Pretoria to secure reparations and safety guarantees.
In an appeal to South African civil society, the CNMF asked progressive partners, community leaders, and human rights organisations to stand with migrants, denounce the attacks publicly, and assist in establishing neighbourhood safety watches to protect foreign nationals.
The group also issued practical advice to Black migrants currently in South Africa. It recommended that they avoid high-risk areas and remain indoors where tensions are high.
Migrants were further advised to document any attacks using photos, videos, or police case numbers, to share that information with the forum’s emergency contacts.
The CNMF also urged Migrants to register with their respectives embssies nd local migrant support networks immediately.
Rejecting what it called a false narrative that African migrants are the cause of South Africa’s economic challenges, the CNMF stated that poverty, unemployment, and crime are governance issues, not justification for ethnic cleansing or vigilantism.
The group expressed solidarity with South Africans who oppose these hate crimes but declared that it would not remain silent while African blood is spilt by Africans hands.
The forum concluded by calling on all Fricans to raise their voices, saying that the present moment should be a turning point. It urged all parties to pursue not retaliation, but a renewed commitment to the Pan-African dream of a borderless, respectful, and united continent.
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