I offer my sincere prayers for the Black people of South Africa. My concern is profound. If, by any misfortune, tensions escalate into a full-scale race conflict involving various racial and ethnic groups like the British A, Boer descendants, Chinese, Indians, Jews, and Arab South Africans, who will stand firmly in defense of Black South Africans?
This question is not raised out of fear alone, but out of historical consciousness and present realities. The truth must be told. Even diplomatic engagement and conflict management have not been sufficiently proactive or effective in addressing the growing tensions within the country.
History remains the memory of a people. Any generation that ignores its past risks losing its direction in the future. Many young people today may not fully grasp the sacrifices that were made to dismantle apartheid. The silence or lack of strong, consistent messaging from leadership structures, including the African National Congress (ANC), in condemning internal divisions and xenophobic violence is troubling.
I recall with pride that Nigeria, among other African nations, stood in unwavering solidarity with South Africans during the dark days of apartheid. Through initiatives like the Mandela Tax, ordinary Nigerians contributed to the struggle for freedom, demonstrating that Africa’s liberation was a collective responsibility.
It is therefore deeply concerning to witness acts of xenophobia, where fellow Africans, immigrants seeking dignity and opportunity, are targeted and harmed. Such actions contradict the very spirit of Pan-African unity that once defined the continent’s struggle. Those who perpetuate this violence must understand that actions carry consequences; division weakens us all.
This is 2026. It is not too late to change course. I do not wish to sound alarmist, but the reality is clear, in the event of a widespread racial conflict, the odds would be dangerously complex and uncertain. Unity, not division, is the only sustainable path forward.
What then has become of the ideal, “Africa for Africans”? Where do we draw the lines among ourselves? Europe continues to advance through regional integration and cooperation, gradually reducing barriers between its people. Africa, too, must move toward greater unity, economically, socially, and politically.
A borderless Africa is not just an aspiration; it is a necessity for true progress. We must reject xenophobia, embrace solidarity, and remember that our strength lies in our shared identity and collective future.