The African Union (AU) on Tuesday condemned the current spate of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
In a press statement, AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat condemned in the strongest terms incidents of violence against fellow Africans in South Africa, including incidences of looting and destruction of property.
“The AU calls for immediate steps to be taken to protect the lives of people and their property, ensure that all perpetrators are brought to account for their acts, and that justice be done to those who suffered economic and other losses,” said Mahamat.
The chairperson also praised South African security forces for arresting suspected attackers.
“The Chairperson reiterates the AU Commission’s continued commitment to support the South African government in addressing the root causes that led to these despicable acts, in order to promote peace and security, within the framework of the AU’s longstanding principles of continental solidarity,” said the statement.
Xenophobic attacks have broken out in South Africa following a planned strike by truck drivers in that country protesting the presence of foreign nationals in the trucking business.
In recent years, xenophobia-related attacks have broken out occasionally in South Africa.
In 2015, widespread violence against foreigners broke out in parts of the country, leaving several foreigners killed. Ever since, sporadic incidents of xenophobia-related attacks have been reported.
