Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress Omoyele Sowore has blamed African political leaders for fostering division among citizens through policies that encourage hostility against fellow Africans instead of addressing governance failures and economic challenges.
In a post shared on his X handle on Wednesday, Sowore reflected on historical incidents of mass expulsions across the continent, arguing that political decisions had repeatedly turned Africans against one another.
He cited Ghana’s 1969 Aliens Compliance Order under then-Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia, which resulted in the expulsion of large numbers of undocumented foreign nationals, including Nigerians.
Sowore also recalled Nigeria’s 1983 mass expulsion of undocumented migrants under the administration of former President Shehu Shagari, noting that the exercise forced more than one million Ghanaians and other foreign nationals to leave the country.
According to him, the episode gave rise to the popular nickname “Ghana Must Go” for the now-famous woven travel bag associated with the migration.
The activist further referenced recurring outbreaks of xenophobic violence in South Africa, describing them as a reminder of the consequences of policies that pit Africans against one another.
“African leaders have too often turned Africans against one another,” Sowore wrote.
He added, “Today, South Africa continues to grapple with recurring shameful outbreaks of xenophobic violence targeting African migrants. These episodes should remind us of the lessons of history.”
Sowore argued that political leaders had often diverted public attention from governance failures, economic hardship and injustice by encouraging resentment against migrants and other African nationals.
“Time and again, misguided policies by political leaders have fueled division, while ordinary Africans are encouraged to turn against fellow Africans instead of confronting the governance failures, economic hardship, and injustice that often underlie these crises,” he stated.
Calling for unity across the continent, Sowore urged Africans to reject xenophobia and resist political manipulation.
“Africans must learn from the past. Africans must reject xenophobia, uphold the rule of law, and refuse to be used against one another for political convenience,” he said.
