African Union urged to sanction South Africa over xenophobia

A wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa targeting migrants from countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe and others has revived criticism of the African Union’s limited powers. Legal experts, diplomats and civil‑society groups are calling for a review of the AU’s Constitutive Act so that the Union could impose sanctions or other disciplinary measures on a member state that permits or fails to prevent discrimination and violence.

Ghana and Nigeria have formally condemned the attacks and petitioned the AU to place the issue on the agenda of its 2027 summit. Under the current AU framework, sanctions are only permitted for member states that default on financial contributions or refuse to comply with legally adopted decisions, leaving the body largely unable to act against human‑rights violations. South Africa’s government has responded evasively, further highlighting the perceived impotence of the continental organization.