South Africa blocks Ghana’s push to place xenophobic violence on AU agenda

South Africa blocks Ghana’s attempt to put incidents of xenophobic violence in South Africa on the African Union (AU) agenda for the October mid-year meetings, according to reports citing the dispute over how the issue should be addressed continent-wide. Ghana had sought to raise the xenophobic attacks in South Africa directly as an agenda item. South Africa opposes this approach and instead pushes for a broader response focused on migration. The alternative proposed is a continent-wide migration summit, which would address migration-related challenges across African countries rather than treating xenophobic violence in one country as a standalone agenda matter. The accounts agree that the decision centers on where and how the AU should discuss xenophobia and migration, with South Africa prevailing in the immediate agenda-setting process. The reports describe the move as part of AU preparations for the October mid-year period, reflecting differing national priorities on framing the AU’s approach to xenophobia and the movement of people across borders.