Violent attacks against Africans in South Africa have sparked widespread revulsion. This sentiment, while understandable, requires deeper analysis. The author argues that xenophobia, while a violation of common humanity, is often a symptom of deeper societal issues. Governments have a right to secure their borders. However, extra-judicial violence against anyone is unacceptable, regardless of their legal status.
The current unrest in South Africa is fueled by frustration over unemployment and failing policing. Many South Africans feel abandoned. This sentiment is amplified by economic hardship and wide inequality. The article notes that entire populations are unfairly stereotyped as inherently violent. South Africans are feeling the sting of international condemnation. The African Union has been largely silent on the matter. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government has made appeals but taken little decisive action.
The author posits that Africa’s current crises demand sober reflection, not just emotional reactions. Pan-Africanism cannot succeed on rhetoric alone. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s early vision in 1963 was idealistic. After his overthrow, his approach changed. Similarly, the post-apartheid idea of a rainbow nation in South Africa, while appealing, lacked a solid analytical foundation. Unity cannot be built on widespread poverty and hardship. High inequality often leads to violence. When large migrant populations live alongside jobless, neglected citizens, migrants become easy scapegoats.
This pattern is not new to Africa. In 1969, during Nigeria’s civil war, Ghana expelled thousands of Nigerians. Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia made this decision under domestic pressure. Many Nigerians had lived in Ghana for generations. Historian Adu Boahen called this action a "stupendous blunder." The Biafran war itself had elements of anti-Igbo hostility. Xenophobia is not an innate trait; it has root causes in socio-economic conditions.
Nigeria later reciprocated these expulsions. In 1983 and 1985, under leaders Shehu Shagari and Muhammadu Buhari, hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians were expelled. These were traumatic experiences. More recently, Cameroon has seen anti-Nigerian sentiment. South Africa’s actions, therefore, are tragically not unique. This kind of inhumanity has appeared in Europe and the United States as well. Amílcar Cabral understood that true Pan-Africanism needs a strong economic base. It cannot survive economic collapse.
To combat xenophobia, the well-being of most people must improve. The African National Congress, the ruling party in South Africa, has failed in this regard over the past 15 years. South Africa faces a dangerous mix of inequality, high unemployment, and decaying institutions. The current crisis must spur a new, honest conversation. The primary task for Africa today is to reduce extreme poverty. Improving the material lives of millions is key. Poverty can lead to brutal behavior. True unity requires that most people can live with dignity. The scenes of violence are a stark reminder that structural issues must be addressed.