Former President John Mahama has described as condemnable the current xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
He says the development which is posing a threat to the harmonious co-existence amongst South Africans and other Africans ‘runs absolutely contrary to all efforts at continental integration’.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Mr. Mahama asked the South African government to hold itself accountable for the atrocities and take steps aimed at remedying the violence.
“The xenophobic attacks on Africans in Alexandra, South Africa are condemnable and run absolutely contrary to all our efforts at continental integration. Certainly, the South African Government must take responsibility for these inhuman actions and implement urgent steps to prevent these attacks from recurring in the future”
South Africa has gained notoriety over the past two decades over incidents of xenophobia-influenced violence.
In the current unrest, Nigerians appear to be the target of the angry mobs.
Other African governments have issued warnings to their citizens over the violence.
International media outlets have reported that dozens of people were arrested in Johannesburg on Monday while at least five people have been killed in the unrest.
Here is the full statement from the Former President
“The xenophobic attacks on Africans in Alexandra, South Africa are condemnable and run absolutely contrary to all our efforts at continental integration.
Clearly, and as I have said in the past, the perpetrators of these gruesome attacks are ignorant of the continental solidarity that was required to defeat apartheid and give birth to the new South African nation.
Certainly, the South African Government must take responsibility for these inhuman actions and implement urgent steps to prevent these attacks from recurring in the future.”