By Florence Joshua,
Deliberations intensified on day two of the First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament as lawmakers raised alarm over xenophobic attacks in South Africa and escalating insecurity across the Sahel region whiling calling for urgent and coordinated interventions.
The regional legislature directed its Committee on Political Affairs to investigate the persistent killings and harassment of non-citizens in South Africa and present concrete proposals for adoption at plenary.
Beyond xenophobia, attention also shifted to the growing insecurity in the Sahel, particularly in Mali and Burkina Faso.
On South Africa, the parliamentarians expressed deep concern over attacks targeting African nationals including Nigerians, Ghanaians, Zimbabweans, and Ethiopians, warning that the trend threatens regional unity and undermines decades of African solidarity.
Presenting a motion titled Accountability, Justice, Free Movement and Regional Solidarity, Third Deputy Speaker Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin described the situation as urgent and unacceptable, stressing that the safety of African citizens must not be compromised.
Citing reports from diplomatic missions, he noted that the Nigerian consulate in Johannesburg had confirmed the death of two citizens this year, while other incidents across South Africa have involved looting, displacement, and violent assaults on foreign nationals.
He warned that a regional bloc that cannot guarantee the protection of its citizens in transit risks losing its credibility, invoking Rule 71 of the Parliament.
“We stood by them in the fight against apartheid. It is disappointing that the same country we all supported has turned around to harass citizens of the same countries that helped them,” lawmakers said during plenary, referencing the continent’s historic support for South Africa’s liberation struggle.
The Parliament further urged member states to summon South African envoys in their respective countries to demand explanations and immediate action over the incidents.
The lawmakers also criticised what they described as weak enforcement of law and order in South Africa, noting that despite official condemnations, perpetrators of violence continue to act with impunity.
They called on South African authorities to move beyond statements and ensure that security agencies including the police and prosecutorial bodies investigate all documented cases and bring those responsible to justice.
The Parliament raised concerns over remarks attributed to President Cyril Ramaphosa, warning that language suggesting conditional acceptance of foreign nationals could embolden hostile groups.
“A government cannot simultaneously condemn mob justice and deploy the language that mobs use to justify their actions,” Afenyo Markin stated.
Although, Mali and Burkina Faso have both exited the ECOWAS bloc, lawmakers warned that their proximity to member states makes their instability a shared regional threat.
They stressed that failure to collaborate with the affected countries in addressing terrorism and violent extremism could have serious consequences for neighbouring nations.
As part of broader recommendations, the Parliament renewed its call for the ratification of the African Union Protocol on the Free Movement of People, Goods, and Services, noting that delays in implementation continue to weaken regional integration efforts.
Additional proposals included the establishment of a special committee dedicated to the safety and protection of ECOWAS citizens abroad, as well as the development of a coordinated West African parliamentary action plan on free movement and border governance.
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