Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba, has urged the African Union (AU) to place the issue of recurring xenophobic attacks against Africans in South Africa on the agenda of the AU Mid-Year Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for October 2026 in Cairo, Egypt, reaffirming the position adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during its recent summit in Sierra Leone.
Minister Timothy Musa Kabba made the call while addressing the 49th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 28 and 29 July 2026, where Ministers deliberated on draft decisions for consideration by African Heads of State and Government at the forthcoming mid-year summit.
During the meeting, the Sierra Leonean Foreign Minister intervened after Ghana was reportedly denied the opportunity to address the Council on the issue because of procedural rules. Acting in support of the collective ECOWAS position, Timothy Musa Kabba took the floor to ensure that the concerns of West African nations were heard, calling on the Executive Council to elevate the issue of xenophobic violence to the highest decision-making level of the African Union.
According to the Minister, his intervention was consistent with the resolution adopted during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, where regional leaders condemned xenophobic attacks targeting West Africans in South Africa and called for stronger continental action.
Reflecting on his intervention, Timothy Musa Kabba said he defended Ghana’s position after it was prevented from speaking and used the opportunity to present the collective concerns of ECOWAS member states.
“I extemporaneously took the floor to defend Ghana’s position, consistent with the decision of the 69th Assembly of ECOWAS Heads of State in Lungi on xenophobia, to condemn the reprehensible actions of xenophobic elements in South Africa that continue to affect mostly West Africans,” he stated.
He added that after Ghana was denied the floor on procedural grounds, Sierra Leone lent its voice on behalf of the region by urging the African Union to include the issue on the agenda of the upcoming Heads of State and Government Summit in Cairo.
“I strongly believe that the antidote to Africa’s woes is not resources, but justice. South Africa should rise to the occasion to protect fellow Africans on its shores,” Timothy Musa Kabba emphasized.
Addressing the Executive Council, the Foreign Minister stressed that the African Union has consistently championed the protection of human rights and the dignity of Africans across the continent and in the diaspora. He noted that Ghana has previously played a leading role in advancing Africa’s reparations and justice agenda and has been entrusted by the continental body to advocate for the interests of Africans globally.
Describing the resurgence of xenophobic violence as a defining challenge for the continent, Timothy Musa Kabba said attacks against fellow Africans living in South Africa were unacceptable and should not be tolerated or ignored by any institution of the African Union.
Speaking on behalf of ECOWAS, he said the people of West Africa, who have repeatedly been victims of what he described as Afrophobia, expected the African Union to demonstrate leadership by ensuring the issue receives serious consideration during the Cairo summit.
He reaffirmed ECOWAS’ solidarity with victims of xenophobic attacks and called on the continental body to adopt concrete political measures aimed at preventing future violence, protecting African migrants and promoting greater unity among member states.
Timothy Musa Kabba’s intervention underscored the growing concern within ECOWAS over repeated attacks on African migrants living in South Africa and highlighted the regional bloc’s commitment to defending the rights, dignity and security of African citizens wherever they reside on the continent.
On the margins of the Executive Council meeting, the Foreign Minister also intensified diplomatic engagements to secure support from African Union member states for Sierra Leone’s ECOWAS-endorsed candidate for the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Professor Charles Jalloh.
Timothy Musa Kabba described Professor Charles Jalloh as an accomplished international jurist who recently concluded a distinguished tenure as a member of the International Law Commission and currently serves as a Professor of Law at the University of Miami in the United States. He expressed confidence that the Sierra Leonean scholar’s extensive expertise in international law makes him a strong candidate for election to the world’s highest judicial body.
The diplomatic outreach forms part of Sierra Leone’s broader efforts to strengthen its influence within continental and international institutions while advancing regional priorities through the African Union and ECOWAS. By advocating for collective action against xenophobia and promoting a qualified Sierra Leonean candidate for the ICJ, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to justice, human rights, regional solidarity and African unity.
