ECOWAS condemns 'barbaric, 'criminal' xenophobic attacks in South Africa
ECOWAS has condemned the “barbaric, criminal and xenophobic” murder of innocent African foreigners in South Africa, and urged the South African Government to act quickly to stop the increasing wave of attacks across its country.
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A statement signed by the Chair of the Authority, President John Dramani Mahama, also condemned the individual South Africans involved in the act.
The West African sub-regional body said it was a “pity” that the very people whose nations sacrificed to help South Africans fight, repel and defeat apartheid, will today be considered aliens and hacked to death in such barbaric manners.
“We welcome the statement of our brother, President Jacob Zuma, and his assurances of a peaceful resolution, but we request for an urgent national action plan, backed by a behavioral change campaign against xenophobia in South Africa,” the statement added.
The xenophobic attacks against Africans have killed at least five people.
Many jobless South Africans, who accuse foreigners of taking their jobs, are attacking Africans and chasing many of them out of their homes.
Two weeks ago locals began attacking and looting properties owned by fellow Africans, in the wake of alleged comments by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini telling migrants to go home – although he says he was mistranslated.
Meanwhile, The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hannah Tetteh, has confirmed that a Ghanaian, Emmanuel Quarcoo, has died in the attacks.
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According to Hannah Tetteh, Quarcoo was found dead by the roadside with head injuries.
“The matter is being investigated by the South African Police and our embassy is following up on this matter. There will be a meeting at the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs with African ambassadors today to discuss the matters. Our Embassy will advise on the need for evacuation of Ghanaian citizens if necessary,” she tweeted.