The government of South Africa says it is prepared to cooperate with any African Union process examining allegations of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals following Ghana’s decision to escalate the issue to the continental body.

South African authorities say they are ready to fully account for developments if the matter is formally tabled before the AU, insisting the country has nothing to hide.

The development follows a diplomatic letter dated May 6, 2026, in which Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, petitioned the Chairperson of the AU Commission over recurring attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa.

In the letter, Ghana described the incidents as an urgent continental concern and called for discussions on the matter during the AU’s Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting scheduled for June 24 to 27 in El Alamein.

South Africa has consistently rejected claims that xenophobia is an organised national policy or coordinated phenomenon, although authorities acknowledge that violent attacks involving foreign nationals have occurred in parts of the country over the years.

The issue has sparked renewed debate across the continent over the African Union’s ability to pressure member states on matters relating to the safety and protection of African migrants within the continent.

Analysts say South Africa’s reluctance to officially characterise the incidents as “xenophobia” may be linked to the potential diplomatic, political, and economic consequences associated with such a label, including reputational damage and strained relations with other African countries.

The matter is expected to attract significant attention ahead of the upcoming AU coordination meeting as African leaders continue discussions on regional integration, migration, and continental unity.