South Africa has stated that attempts by Ghana and Nigeria to diplomatically isolate the country over migration issues will not work. The Presidency welcomed the proposal for an African Union discussion, saying it supports continent-wide talks on migration.
Ghana and Nigeria have urged the African Union (AU) to tackle what they call “Afrophobia” in South Africa, linked to protests targeting undocumented foreigners. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that the AU should also examine the root causes of migration and the collective responsibility of African nations to generate opportunities domestically so that no single country bears an excessive load or disproportionate burden.
Responding to this joint move by Ghana and Nigeria, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya clearly stated that Pretoria would resist attempts to use the issue to isolate South Africa. They have welcomed the opportunity to place the issue of migration on the AU agenda, where they can discuss both the pull and push factors of migration.
Magwenya further added that they can also engage on every country’s responsibility to contribute to the development of Africa in order to avoid a situation where one country has to carry the burden of the entire continent. They are ready for that discussion at the AU.
His comments follow a meeting held between Ghanaian Foreign Minister – Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs – Sola Enikanolaiye on the sidelines of the Economic Community of West African States mid-year summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
South Africa 🇿🇦 says efforts by Ghana 🇬🇭 and Nigeria 🇳🇬 to isolate the country diplomatically over migration will not succeed.
The Presidency welcomed their proposal for an African Union debate, saying it supports discussions on migration across the continent.
Ghana and… pic.twitter.com/MfVhfkrT9S
— Africa View Facts (@AfricaViewFacts) July 22, 2026
In a joint statement issued on Sunday, July 19, 2026 the two countries agreed to work together to address what they described as Afrophobic protests in South Africa and to seek support for the issue to be placed on the agenda of an upcoming African Union summit.
If adopted by AU member states, the proposal would elevate the dispute from bilateral diplomacy to a formal discussion among African leaders. The joint statement also called for closer continental cooperation, including early-warning mechanisms and preventive diplomacy to address attacks on African migrants.
While Ghana first called for an AU debate earlier this year, Sunday’s joint declaration brought Nigeria into the initiative and signalled towards a more coordinated diplomatic approach.
Magwenya earlier rejected suggestions that the initiative would damage South Africa’s standing on the continent. He said that what Ghana and Nigeria will not succeed in doing is to use the challenge of illegal migration as an instrument to isolate South Africa from the rest of the continent.
He made a strong statement that, “the campaign will fail as it is faltering even now.”
The diplomatic tension has intensified in recent weeks amid anti-illegal migration demonstrations in parts of South Africa, as criticism from several African governments and public war of words over migration and Afrophobia have increased.
Last week the Presidency accused Ghana, and to a lesser extent Nigeria, of driving a sustained campaign to portray South Africa as increasingly isolated in Africa. Magwenya said that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation had raised South Africa’s concerns with Ghana’s High Commissioner. As the dispute reflects different narratives.