Gabby Otchere-Darko warns that South Africa risks becoming a “continental outlier” following its June 30 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country. This crackdown could severely damage the country's moral authority on the continent. The Founder and Executive Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network offered this analysis.
The current situation in South Africa differs from past mass expulsions across Africa. Historical events, like Ghana's Alien Compliance Order of 1969, were state-driven policies. However, South Africa's crisis stems from citizen movements and social media activism. These forces shaped the national conversation on immigration without initial decisive state intervention.
This incident fits into a broader narrative of African economic and political challenges. It highlights the difficulties in implementing continent-wide integration projects. The African Union's vision of free movement and a common market remains largely unfulfilled. Only four countries have ratified the 2018 Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.
Mr. Otchere-Darko stated that South Africa’s government initially reacted to events rather than leading them. He noted authorities hesitated while intimidation and public vigilantism expanded. This hesitation, he argued, created a vacuum that others filled, thus eroding state control. “When a state hesitates to exercise its authority, others inevitably step forward to fill the vacuum,” he added.
The implications are significant for South Africa's credibility and its role in African affairs. A failure to guarantee the safety of all residents, including fellow Africans, could weaken its standing. This situation also underscores the need for stronger action from the African Union. The AU must ensure moral clarity and uphold its own policies.
Mr. Otchere-Darko linked the crisis to a failure by African leaders to implement ambitious integration initiatives. The 1991 Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community envisioned deep integration, including free movement. Yet, eight years after the 2018 Protocol on Free Movement, Right of Residence and Establishment, only a handful of nations have ratified it. “Africa’s leaders embraced the rhetoric of integration while retreating from its practical implementation,” he observed. This inaction, he suggests, contributes to the current issues in South Africa.
South Africa's economy, with its advanced manufacturing and services, would greatly benefit from deeper African integration. A single market of 1.5 billion people offers immense opportunities for economic growth. Turning inward, Mr. Otchere-Darko contended, goes against the country’s own long-term prosperity. He highlighted the irony of South Africa's domestic scepticism towards integration, despite its potential gains.
He described the anti-foreigner sentiment, or Afrophobia, as a misdirection of anger. This sentiment arises from disappointment with a political and economic system that has not delivered security nor prosperity. “Rather than confront the structural causes of that failure, some activists have chosen a weaker and more vulnerable target,” he explained. This scapegoating, he added, masquerades as patriotism.
The legal practitioner, who is a Senior Partner at Africa Legal Associates, ALPi Ghana, called for increased pressure on African leaders. They must implement AU policies promoting free movement of people, goods, services, capital, and creativity. This implementation is crucial for shared prosperity and dignity across the continent. Such coordinated efforts will counter the divisive trends witnessed in South Africa.