As South Africa grapples with rising anti-immigrant tensions, former President Thabo Mbeki has cautioned that the country is repeating the mistakes of Ghana and Nigeria from decades ago — and warned that such hostility will only shatter the continental unity Africa desperately needs.
Drawing on vivid historical examples, Mbeki recalled how Ghana’s attacks on undocumented Nigerians in 1969 triggered retaliation when Nigeria expelled Ghanaians in 1979 and 1981. “It solved nothing,” he said in an exclusive interview.
“These things that we did in Ghana and these things we did in Nigeria which you are repeating here didn’t solve anything,” Mbeki stated. “They drive us against this unity which we need.”
The former president also spotlighted current security challenges in West Africa. He revealed that he met with Premier Sonko at an AU summit in Addis in February to discuss Senegal’s future. “I was worried about that tension was there already between him the prime minister and the president,” Mbeki admitted. “I’m still going there.”
He emphasized that other African leaders continue to welcome South Africa’s involvement precisely because of its historic role in the struggle for African unity and renaissance. “They understand that we are Africans,” Mbeki said. “When we say we want to come, they know that we’re going to come and say what’s wrong in Mali… and they are not going to say you’re a foreigner, go home — because they’re fellow Africans. It is our common problem.”
Turning to global affairs, Mbeki addressed the Middle East, noting that Iran has long insisted on a firm decision not to develop nuclear weapons. “We engaged with President Bush the United States and his people on this matter,” he recalled. “I don’t think the Iranians need to be threatened by anybody.” He pointed to a fatwa against nuclear weapons as evidence that a resolution is possible.
On the war in Ukraine, now in its third year, Mbeki was blunt. “You can’t bring NATO to the doorstep of the Russian Federation and think they’re going to do nothing.” He blamed a lack of political will, saying, “There’s a political agenda which is driving some countries in a very wrong direction.” While acknowledging that the US government is correct to urge European coexistence with Russia, he lamented that “the Europeans are not listening.”
Regarding domestic politics, Mbeki addressed the impeachment process against South Africa’s current president. He confirmed he had written to the leader of government business after parliament used its ANC majority, in his view, to block a panel led by the chief justice from proceeding. “That decision was wrong,” Mbeki said. “What the constitutional court has done is agreed with what I said two years ago. I think the constitutional court is correct.”
Ending on a lighter note, Mbeki shared a message for Bafana Bafana ahead of their tournament in the Americas. “I hope that they will show that again in this tournament… that they are continuing to improve.” A keen follower of English Premier League football — Chelsea in particular — he acknowledged the global game’s rising standard. “The quality of football globally you can see it is going shooting high all the time.” His verdict on South Africa’s chances: “We may not win the cup, but we will show that we definitely are getting better.”