South Africa pushes for African migration talks

South Africa is pressing for continent-wide discussions on migration, as anti-immigration demonstrations have driven many migrants to leave the country, Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said on Wednesday.

“It’s not a South African phenomenon,” Lamola said. “What we are disagreeing with is to isolate it and make it a South African phenomenon, particularly through the intervention of Ghana. When you look at it, it’s that because we are one of the highest receiving countries on the continent, we end up being the ones that are mostly discussed.”

The country has faced criticism over the protests and reported violent attacks against migrants. Lamola insisted that authorities are taking the matter seriously.

“We are also cooperating with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the matter,” he said. “They will also be visiting South Africa soon, and we will be responding and cooperating with them with regard to this issue that is on the table, which is the appropriate organ of the AU.”

Lamola said South Africa reminded the AU of a 2015 resolution calling for a comprehensive migration conference, which has not been convened.

The African Union rejected a proposal last week by Ghana to add South Africa’s migration tensions to the agenda of the next bloc coordination meeting in October. South Africa opposed the idea, arguing it would be singled out without addressing the broader crisis.

The issue is expected to be discussed at a Southern African Development Community summit later this month in South Africa.

SOURCE: AP