South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has rejected proposals to place allegations of xenophobia at the center of the upcoming African Union midterm review meeting. Speaking at a Pretoria media briefing on Wednesday, Lamola argued that migration is a continental challenge requiring a holistic approach rather than a singular focus on South Africa.
AU Executive Council Decision and the 2015 Johannesburg Resolution
According to Minister Ronald Lamola, the 49th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council decided not to discuss migration at the upcoming midterm review meeting. Ghanaian representatives had attempted to place the matter on the agenda, but the council determined the October meeting was not the appropriate forum.
Lamola pointed to the 25th AU Assembly held in Johannesburg in 2015, which formally called for an African migration conference. That gathering aimed to address irregular migration, accelerate intra-continental mobility, and strengthen management capacities. South Africa maintains that the continent should implement that existing framework rather than isolate individual nations.
“South Africa believes that a continent-wide convening on migration must take a holistic view,” Lamola said during the briefing. He emphasized that discussions must connect migration to peace, stability, economic development, regional integration, and democratic governance while analyzing push and pull factors like climate change and employment.
Intracontinental Migration Patterns and Regional Burdens
Data highlights that African migration remains predominantly intracontinental. Approximately 45 percent of all international migrants originating from Africa reside outside their home countries, and more than 50 percent of that group relocate within the African continent itself, according to government figures cited by Lamola.
Key destination countries—including South Africa, Egypt, and Côte d’Ivoire—receive the majority of these movers. Lamola stated that nearly six in 10 Africans aged between 18 and 25 have considered emigrating in search of better opportunities, driven largely by economic hardship.
Pointing to broader regional pressures, Lamola referenced a United Nations refugee agency report noting at least 144 deaths or disappearances off the coast of Mauritania as migrants attempted to reach Europe, alongside high-profile arrivals in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. These incidents, he argued, prove that migration is a shared continental burden rather than a domestic South African crisis.
Diplomatic Tensions and Calls for Protection
The ministerial remarks arrive amid ongoing domestic debate regarding immigration in South Africa. Anti-migrant groups continue calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country, while protesters argue that unauthorized immigrants strain public healthcare and education systems while competing for local jobs.
Regional friction has also surfaced internationally. Neighboring nations such as Nigeria and Ghana have previously condemned anti-immigrant violence in South Africa, urging authorities to safeguard lawfully resident foreign nationals.
Despite these pressures, Lamola rejected allegations that South Africa is inherently xenophobic or discriminatory. He insisted that isolating South Africa for specific criticism at an AU leaders’ summit would create a zero-sum game where member states trade accusations without producing constructive resolutions.
Path Forward for Continental Dialogue
South Africa confirmed it will cooperate fully with an upcoming visit from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Lamola reiterated that formal migration discussions should occur through dedicated research-driven conferences before reaching the AU leaders’ summit as structured reports.
“You cannot treat the symptom of the problem. You must treat the root cause to come up with a solution,” Lamola said, emphasizing that the continent already possesses the necessary roadmap through the 2015 Johannesburg resolution.
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