International Relations and Security Expert, Prof Vladimir Antwi-Danso has called on the African Union (AU) and other leaders in African to show serious anger over the xenophobic attacks on foreign African citizens living in South Africa.
He said in an interview with Alfred Ocansey on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on Thursday 8 September, 2022 that it is unfortunate the South African government has not been able to deal with xenophobic attacks on fellow African citizens.
According to him, incidentally multilateral governments are weak when it comes to international relations and the AU cannot use brute force on South Africa.
Even the United Nations (UN) doesn’t go in until the situation is out of hand but however, AU can talk but can’t walk hence the Africa Union should show that it is upset with this perennial attacks on innocent foreigners in South Africa.
Who would have predicted South Africa would sink this low and on xenophobia against fellow Africans? Is this our payback for the solidarity shown during the days of apartheid? For black South Africa to today turn against Black Africans in South Africa? Cry Biko! Cry Mandela! pic.twitter.com/TNhnLlpl8I
— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) September 7, 2022
“Governments of African countries must show anger towards the South African Government. They must show a determination to force the South African government to do what is necessary because in the early instance if they don’t reprisal attacks will be made on South African businesses and citizens outside South Africa” Antwi-Danso admonished.
He noted that anytime there is an economic downturn in a country, it is the foreigners in that country that are blamed which may not be the case in most instances. However, it is also true that some foreigners may be engaging in illegal activities such as; narcotics trade, and illegal diamond and gold businesses as in the case of South Africa.
Mr. Antwi-Danso emphasised that the laws on crime in South Africa must be rather applied to foreigners who engage in nefarious activities rather than some citizens taking the laws into their own hands to perpetrate violence and murder innocent foreigners.
His statement comes on the back of a cautioning statement that was released by the Ghana High Commission in South Africa. The High Commission in a statement said individuals claiming to represent groups against the presence of foreigners have announced or broadcast plans to attack, rusticate or remove foreigners from their jobs or workplaces and even out from the country from the beginning of September 2022.
By Samuel Afriyie Owusu|3news.com|Ghana