Migration: South Africa refuses to bear the brunt of the tensions alone

South Africa no longer wants to be portrayed as the symbol of the African migration crisis. Faced with criticism sparked by recent violence against migrants on its territory, Pretoria asserts that migration concerns the entire continent and calls on African states to seek common solutions rather than pointing the finger at a single country.

Just days before the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, scheduled for August 16 and 17 in Durban, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, defended this view. According to him, population displacements are primarily the result of economic, social, and security difficulties that transcend national borders.
The South African foreign minister believes it would be counterproductive to limit discussions to the situation in his country alone. He argues that such an approach would transform the debate into an indictment of Pretoria, at the expense of reflecting on the true causes of migration in Africa.

This stance comes amid a tense climate. In recent weeks, several anti-migrant demonstrations have erupted in South Africa, accompanied by attacks against foreign nationals. These incidents have raised concerns among several African countries and human rights organizations, which are urging the authorities to better protect those targeted.

Pretoria, however, maintains that it is taking action on the matter. The government has announced that it will continue its collaboration with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, which is expected to visit the country soon to meet with the authorities and assess the situation.

On the diplomatic front, South African authorities also welcomed the African Union's rejection of a proposal from Ghana that aimed to put migration tensions in South Africa on the agenda of the organization's next meeting in October.

For Pretoria, this decision confirms that no single country can bear sole responsibility for such a complex phenomenon. The government is now calling for a coordinated response among African states to address the root causes of migration and prevent further tensions.

Djamila Kambou