South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a coordinated continental approach to migration, saying no single country can manage the issue in isolation.
Addressing the Pan-African Parliament in Johannesburg, he pointed to conflict, poverty, and instability as the main drivers pushing people to leave their homes. According to Ramaphosa, tackling those root causes must be a shared priority if Africa is to reduce forced movement across borders.
The President also spoke out against xenophobia, urging African governments to take collective responsibility rather than shift the burden to host nations. He cautioned that uncontrolled migration poses risks to national security, sovereignty, and social cohesion if left unchecked.At the same time, Ramaphosa stressed that migrants and asylum seekers must abide by South Africa’s immigration laws.
He said orderly migration protects both citizens and newcomers, and helps preserve public trust in the system.His remarks come amid a wave of anti-immigrant protests and attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa. In recent weeks, thousands of migrants have been repatriated to countries including Ghana, Nigeria, and Malawi, underscoring the urgency of a broader African solution.
