The African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP) has issued a stark warning to the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, urging their intervention to curb rising xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa. These incidents, the ACCP states, jeopardize hard-won progress in intra-African trade, tourism, and continental unity.
Growing Tensions and Diplomatic Fallout
The situation has reached a critical point, with Ghana reportedly evacuating approximately 300 of its nationals from South Africa and providing them with reintegration assistance. This action has fueled significant disappointment in Ghana, leading to calls for demonstrations and boycotts of South African-owned businesses.
Online discourse has intensified, raising concerns about hate speech and entrenched anti-South African sentiment, which the ACCP warns could leave lasting digital scars.
South African Tourism has acknowledged the growing problem, noting with concern reports of cancelled travel bookings from several African countries. The agency highlighted that Africa is South Africa’s largest source market and that the continent’s connections are built on deep historical, cultural, and economic ties.
The ACCP views this official admission as validation of its stance, asserting that xenophobic violence is not only a moral issue but also an economic self-inflicted wound. They emphasize that if African citizens no longer feel safe traveling to South Africa, the damage will extend beyond tourism, fracturing the trust essential for the AfCFTA and Pan-African unity.
Official Responses and Denials
Ghana has escalated its diplomatic response, summoning South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner and formally petitioning the AU for an emergency debate. Ghana’s Foreign Minister contacted his South African counterpart in April 2026 to coordinate an official response following disturbing videos of attacks on Ghanaians.
In a significant protest, African ambassadors in South Africa boycotted this year’s Africa Day celebrations, citing renewed xenophobic hostility. Ghana’s High Commissioner confirmed this boycott was a direct response to the tensions that triggered the evacuation of Ghanaians.
Conversely, the South African government has denied allegations of xenophobia, characterizing the incidents as isolated and asserting that no xenophobic attacks are occurring. Ghanaian civil society groups have rejected this denial, joining calls for structural protection for African migrants.
Impact on AfCFTA and Continental Integration
The ACCP warns that continued xenophobic violence undermines the fundamental goals of the AfCFTA, which aims to establish a single continental market for goods, services, and the movement of people. Despite intra-African trade constituting only 14% of total African trade in 2024, the ACCP identifies xenophobic aggression and anti-foreigner sentiment as significant barriers to deeper integration.
In South Africa, nearly 73% of citizens reportedly express distrust toward African immigrants, a stark contrast to the country’s significant contribution to intra-African trade, accounting for over 40% of the total.
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