The Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to South Africa following recent tensions and incidents involving foreign nationals. In a statement released Monday, the ministry expressed “great concern” over increasing xenophobic attacks targeting Africans by groups presenting themselves as anti-immigration vigilantes.
According to the advisory, these incidents have resulted in injuries, the closure and takeover of businesses, looting, and significant property losses. The Ghanaian government called on South African authorities to provide adequate security and protection for targeted groups and to enforce law and order “in the spirit of genuine African pan-Africanism as well as African integration.” The ministry confirmed it would collaborate with South African authorities to facilitate the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals requiring assistance and noted that a formal demarche had been delivered to the South African High Commissioner in Ghana to register its protest.
International relations expert and former ambassador Dr. Kingsley Makhubela provided analysis on the diplomatic dimensions of the advisory. He acknowledged that while Ghana has a responsibility to provide consular support to its citizens, the public statement omitted a critical element: an appeal to Ghanaian nationals in South Africa to operate within the host country’s legal framework, including immigration laws. “Any ministry putting a public note would have been sensitive to this matter and address it,” Dr. Makhubela stated.
Dr. Makhubela expressed concern about Ghana’s indication that it may raise the matter at the African Union, emphasizing that the issue is “essentially a domestic matter” and that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is already actively engaged on the issue. He noted that SADC foreign ministers met in Skukuza approximately two weeks prior and received a detailed briefing on how South Africa is handling the situation.
The former ambassador also highlighted that the tonality of Ghana’s statement, combined with the absence of condemnation for past incidents where foreign nationals attacked South African police services, raised diplomatic concerns. While affirming that attacks against foreign nationals are “unfortunate” and something South Africa “cannot condone,” Dr. Makhubela added that South African politicians have also erred by politicizing the question of foreign nationals.
Dr. Makhubela advised that South Africa should process the advisory carefully, noting that broader geopolitical dynamics—including Ghana’s recently strengthened relationship with Israel and divergent continental positions on issues such as Somaliland—could influence the diplomatic context. He emphasized the importance of bilateral dialogue and mutual respect for legal frameworks to preserve regional cooperation.
