According to South Africa police, at least five people have been killed since the attacks directed at foreigners and their businesses started on September 2.
On Tuesday, Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari instructed his foreign affairs minister to summon South Africa’s high commissioner to Nigeria over the violence.
On the same day, AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said in a press statement that the union condemns in the strongest terms incidents of violence against fellow Africans in South Africa.
AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat condemned in the strongest terms incidents of violence against fellow Africans in South Africa, including incidences of looting and destruction of property.
On Wednesday, Rwanda, DRC and Malawi said they have withdrawn the World Economic Forum is started today in Capetown, South Africa and will end in Friday.
Equally, Kenya High Commissioner to South Africa, Jean Kamau, confirmed that several Kenyans were among those attacked in fresh xenophobic attacks in Gauteng Province.
Ms Kamau asked Kenyans living in the county to cooperate with the police and report all incidents.
“The Kenya High Commission has since reached out to the affected individuals and encouraged them to respond to the instructions and calls by the South African police to report and open files regarding all incidents,” she stated.
Makueni Senator, Mutula Kilonzo Jr, also called on Kenyans to condemn the ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa that have affected many African foreigners including Kenyans living there.
Kenya must stand up to counted on the barbaric attacks on Kenyans & other African brothers &sisters .We sang “Release , release Mandela Africa shall be free”in 1992 for a good cause ! Economic sanctions , boycotts of South African shops , goods etc will send a clear message
— Sen Mutula KilonzoJR (@SenMutula) September 4, 2019
Mutula noted that Kenya and other African countries played a key role in agitating for the independence of South Africa by calling for the release of former President Nelson Mandela.
The outspoken senator called on Kenyans to cease purchasing from South African companies in order to express their anger with the latest attacks targeting foreigners.
The anti-foreign riots sparked reprisal attacks on S. African business in Nigeria.
According to Reuters, South African companies MTN and Shoprite closed stores in Nigeria on Wednesday after attacks on their facilities.
The country’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, in a live Twitter video on Tuesday termed the attacks “totally unacceptable” and unjustifiable.
Our security forces are on high alert. Whilst in no way, can we take away the sense of deep loss and unbearable pain you experience, as a country we commit ourselves to continue to work tirelessly to building the kind of South Africa, where indeed womxn and children will be safe. pic.twitter.com/ZoQSziiuPM
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) September 3, 2019