The Government of Ghana, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has formally advised its citizens to postpone non-essential travel to South Africa amid rising concerns over safety and security for foreign nationals. The advisory, issued Monday, cites a pattern of xenophobic incidents targeting African migrants by self-styled anti-immigration groups.
According to the ministry’s statement, these attacks have led to physical injuries, forced business closures, unlawful takeovers of commercial premises, looting, and widespread property destruction. Ghanaian authorities have urged the South African government to strengthen protective measures for vulnerable communities and to uphold law and order “in the spirit of genuine African pan-Africanism as well as African integration.” The ministry also affirmed its commitment to work with South African counterparts to assist in evacuating Ghanaian nationals who feel threatened, and confirmed that a formal diplomatic protest was delivered to the South African High Commissioner in Accra.
Dr. Kingsley Makhubela, an international relations specialist and former ambassador, offered perspective on the diplomatic implications. While recognizing Ghana’s duty to support its citizens abroad, Dr. Makhubela observed that the public advisory did not include a reminder for Ghanaian nationals in South Africa to comply with local laws, including immigration regulations. “Any ministry issuing a public note would have been sensitive to this matter and addressed it,” he noted.
Dr. Makhubela also expressed reservations about Ghana’s suggestion that the issue could be elevated to the African Union. He characterized the situation as fundamentally a domestic concern, adding that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is already actively engaged. He referenced a meeting of SADC foreign ministers in Skukuza roughly two weeks earlier, where members received a comprehensive briefing on South Africa’s approach to managing the tensions.
The former ambassador highlighted broader geopolitical considerations, pointing to Ghana’s deepening ties with Israel as a contextual factor. He recalled South Africa’s principled opposition to granting Israel observer status at the African Union and its support for referring Israel to the International Criminal Court. Dr. Makhubela suggested that these divergent foreign policy positions, alongside an upcoming presidential visit from Ghana to South Africa, warranted careful diplomatic navigation to prevent external actors from exploiting regional divisions.
Dr. Makhubela further noted that the tone of Ghana’s statement, coupled with the absence of prior condemnation for incidents where foreign nationals targeted South African police services, raised questions about balanced diplomatic messaging. He reiterated that violence against foreign nationals is unacceptable and demands serious attention from South African authorities, while also cautioning that politicizing migration issues by domestic political parties has complicated the situation.
The advisory emphasizes collaboration between Accra and Pretoria to ensure citizen safety, while calling for measures that reflect shared African values of unity and integration. Dr. Makhubela concluded that preserving constructive bilateral channels and mutual respect for legal frameworks remains essential to managing the current tensions and safeguarding regional solidarity.