The African Democratic Alliance for Freedom and Progress (ADAFP) has condemned the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, calling it a betrayal of African values and principles. In a statement issued in Monrovia over the weekend, Eddie D. Jarwolo, Secretary General for the group and Executive Director of Naymote Partners for Democratic Development called for an immediate end to the attacks.
According to statement, as a continental body founded on the ideas of individual liberty, social justice, and Pan-Africanism, ADAFP views these acts as a direct assault on the very foundation of African unity, the time-tested value of Ubuntu, and the collective forward march to “the Africa We Want” as spelt out in the AU’s Agenda 2063.
The statement added that ADAFP is not oblivious of the undercurrents such as high unemployment rates among South African youth, increasing crime rates and pressure on public services, putting the blame on fellow African nationals engaged in legitimate enterprise in South Africa is most untenable.
“It is trite learning that whenever economies fail leaving expectations of citizens unmet, the foreign economic migrant becomes fair game. The devastating effects of Ghana’s Aliens Compliance Order of 1969 and President Shehu Shagari of Nigeria’s Executive Order of 1983 which forced over two million undocumented migrants out of Nigeria remain abiding lessons that must guide South Africa,” the group noted.
The statement emphasized that South Africa must stand firm on legal migration pathways adding, “While we condemn all acts of xenophobic violence, we equally affirm that South Africa has the right and duty to enforce its immigration laws without prejudice or political manipulation.”
“All individuals entering, residing in, or conducting business within its borders must do so in accordance with the law, as would be required in any other jurisdiction. Upholding these laws fairly and consistently strengthens public trust, deters abuse of systems, and distinguishes between legitimate migrants and those outside legal frameworks and the answer to disorder is not open borders or vigilante violence, but lawful, transparent, and humane enforcement,” the statement added.
The statement further condemned the “normalization of hostility” used by some political actors to scapegoat migrants for systemic failures in service delivery and economic opportunity adding that true progress requires addressing corruption and inequality that shouldn’t come by attacks on fellow Africans.
The group called on the citizens of South Africa to rediscover the spirit of Ubuntu the fundamental understanding that our humanity is inextricably bound to one another. The statement indicated beyond immediate responses, “We must address the root causes of anti-immigrant sentiment by building a truly integrated continent.”
ADAFP called on all AU member states to accelerate the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) including its critical provisions on visas, currency harmonization, and immigration issues-a continent where Africans can move, trade, and work legally and freely across borders will reduce the desperation that fuels xenophobia and create shared prosperity.
“Africa stands at a crossroads. We cannot build a prosperous, integrated, and “borderless” continent under Agenda 2063 if we allow the present socio-economic challenges to consume our shared future.” ADAFP says it remains committed to a “Third Way” of governance one that replaces exclusion with opportunity and hatred with progress.
