Key facts
- The African Union will discuss migration broadly, examining factors that drive people to leave their countries and those that draw them elsewhere.
- South Africa stated it successfully opposed Ghana's proposal to single out xenophobic violence in South Africa for a standalone agenda item.
- Ghana had previously repatriated hundreds of its citizens ahead of an anti-migrant deadline.
- Anti-migrant protests have occurred in South Africa in recent months.
The African Union has agreed to a broad discussion on migration, including "pull and push" factors, after South Africa successfully opposed Ghana's attempt to place xenophobic violence in South Africa on the agenda as a standalone item.
Clayson Monyela, a South African foreign affairs official, stated on X that Pretoria had defeated an attempt to "single out & isolate" the country. He added that the AU would discuss migration broadly, referring to conditions that drive people to leave their countries and those that draw them elsewhere.
Ghana has been a prominent critic of anti-immigrant protests and xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Local media reported that the AU rejected Ghana's proposal to discuss xenophobic violence in South Africa as a standalone agenda item at the body's mid-year coordination meeting in October.