'Totally unacceptable' - Nigeria, Ghana carry South Africa go AU ova xenophobic attacks and anti immigration protests

Di govments of Nigeria and Ghana don condemn di xenophobic attacks against Africans for South Africa, and call on members of di Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to dey united to confront am.

Presidents Bola Tinubu and John Mahama of Nigeria and Ghana respectively, tok dis one for dia speeches during di 69th Ordinary Session of di Ecowas Authority of Heads of State and Government, for Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Sunday.

"Nigeria condemn in di strongest terms, di recent attacks on dia citizens and oda Africans for di Republic of South Africa," Vice President Kashim Shettima, wey represent President Tinubu for di meeting, tok.

"Ecowas must to present a united voice for dis condemnation and table di mata bifor di next session of di Authority of Heads of State and Government of di African Union. Dis go send clear message say dis type of intolerance dey totally unacceptable under any guise.

"South Africa suppose dey reminded say di freedom wey dem dey currently enjoy na di result of di sacrifices and liberation efforts of African kontris, including Nigeria."

Shettima tok say Nigeria don already evacuate more dan 1,490 of dia citizens in seven batches from South Africa, and dem dey ready to engage further on top di mata.

Earlier, President Mahama of Ghana bin don also tok say make Ecowas put di mata of xenophobic attacks for South Africa for di agenda of di next African Union Summit.

Mahama tok say Africa liberation bin dey achieved tru solidarity across borders and leaders no suppose to allow dat legacy to dey undermined by di actions of a small minority.

Last month, Ghana cancel di proposed state visit of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to di kontri, wey suppose hapun for di first week of August, sake of dis same mata of xenophobia.

Di Ghana govment say dem dey worried say mass protests fit hapun for di kontri if di South African president visit at dis time wey tensions still dey high.

Nigeria don also tok say dem go demand compensation from di South African govment for many Nigerians wey dia businesses dey damaged for di xenophobic riots for di kontri, as well as di ones wey gatz abandon dia valued property to run for dia lives.

Both Nigeria and Ghana don lose some of dia citizens for dis recent wave of xenophobic attacks for South Africa, as locals for di kontri bin give deadline of 30 June 2026 say make evri African for di kontri pack comot.

Ghana na one of di first African kontri to evacuate dia citizens from South Africa, and so far, dem don bring bak more dan 1,000 of dia citizens, but di govment say dem go start to evacuate di last batch by 25 July.

Diomaye Faye bicom new Ecowas President

Also, for di Sunday meeting, di Ecowas Authourity of Head of States and Govment elect President Diomaye Faye of Senegal as dia new president for di next two years.

Faye take ova from President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone who bin also take ova from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in 2025.

President Faye dey expected to work to unite Ecowas so dem go fit face di plenty economic, political and security challenges wey dey face di region.

Meanwhile, for di same meeting on Sunday, Biram Diop, former Chief of General Staff of di Senegal Armed Forces, was appointed as di President of di ECOWAS Commission, taking ova from Omar Touray of di Gambia who bin don dey di office since 2022.

Diop, who bin also serve as Military Adviser on Peacekeeping Operations to di United Nations Secretary-General, go hold di office until 2030, and dis na di first time a Senegalese go hold dat position since dem form Ecowas in 1975.