Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has condemned xenophobic attacks against African migrants in South Africa, saying illegal migration should be addressed through the law rather than violence or destruction of property.
Obasanjo made the remarks during an interview on C-Suite Café, where he also reflected on Nigeria’s financial and diplomatic support for the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
The former president said Nigeria’s involvement in the anti-apartheid struggle was driven by principle and opposition to racial discrimination, rather than an expectation of reward.
He said the principle behind Nigeria’s support was that no black person should be treated as inferior because of race.
Obasanjo also highlighted Nigeria’s contribution to the eventual dismantling of apartheid, saying the country’s leadership and interventions played an important role in ending the system.
He recalled working with several international and African leaders during the struggle, including former United States Representative Andrew Young, former British Prime Minister James Callaghan, former Mozambican President Samora Machel and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.
Speaking on the treatment of migrants in South Africa, Obasanjo maintained that the presence of undocumented migrants did not justify unlawful actions against them.
He said authorities and citizens should not respond to illegal migration by committing further violations, describing such an approach as using “illegality to treat illegality”.
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The former president questioned the practice of allowing or encouraging local groups to destroy the homes and businesses of undocumented migrants, warning that such actions were unlawful.
He also challenged assumptions that foreign nationals were generally responsible for crime, asking what proportion of migrants were actually involved in criminal activities and how many others contributed to the economy by creating jobs.
According to Obasanjo, resentment towards migrants is also connected to broader governance and economic challenges. He suggested that political pressure on governments, including the African National Congress, could fuel anti-immigrant sentiment when citizens’ economic expectations were not being met.
He further argued that violence against migrants was inconsistent with efforts to promote African integration and economic cooperation.
His comments come amid continuing debate over the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa, particularly against the backdrop of concerns over undocumented migration, unemployment, crime and competition for economic opportunities.
Recent discussions on migration in South Africa have also focused on the economic contributions of foreign nationals, including their role in creating businesses, jobs and other economic opportunities.
