ECOWAS charges South African government stop attacks fast

dimeji akinloye

April 17, 2015 4:28 PM

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the barbaric and xenophobic murder of innocent African foreigners in South Africa.

The Nigerian government has said it would evacuate Nigerians who are willing to return home from South Africa if attacks worsen.

A group of African nations on Friday, April 17, criticised South Africa for not doing enough to stop violence against foreigners, after five people were killed in xenophobic attacks over the past two weeks.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned the barbaric and xenophobic murder of innocent African foreigners in South Africa.

The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and President of Ghana, John Mahama, challenged the South African government to act quickly and stop the increasing wave of attacks across the country.

He said that it is so unfortunate that the very people, whose nations sacrificed to help South Africans fight, repel and defeat apartheid, are now considered aliens and hacked to death in such a barbaric manner.

Mahama said that South Africa government must protect the African foreigners and curb the crisis before it gets out of hand.

Two weeks ago, locals began attacking and looting properties owned by fellow Africans, leading to at least five deaths.

Meanwhile, a grouping of 31 civil society organisations on Friday in Harare handed a petition to South African Deputy Ambassador, Andy Makwabe, demanding that South Africa "urgently ensure the full protection of all foreign nationals and their properties."

Similarly, the Nigerian Government had said on Thursday, April 16, that it would move to evacuate Nigerians in South Africa if the xenophobic violence deepens.

dimeji akinloye