Mugabe Denounces “Barbaric” Xenophobia At AU Summit

Protesters carry placards as they march during an anti-xenophobia demonstration in Johannesburg, South Africa on April 23, 2015. In recent weeks, South Africa has seen mounting anti-immigrant violence that has mostly targeted migrants from other African countries. Ihsaan Haffejee / Anadolu Agency

African countries must work together to eradicate xenophobic attacks similar to the spate of violence experienced in South Africa in recent months, Zimbabwean President and African Union Chairman Robert Mugabe said on Sunday

“While condemning the recent spate of barbaric violence targeted at foreign nationals…let us be cognisant of the fact that this is a problem that falls upon all of us and we should work together to find a solution. United we will not fail,” Mugabe told a gathering of African heads of state at the 25th African Union Summit in Johannesburg.

“President [Jacob] Zuma has given us details of the programmes they have embarked upon. The government of South Africa will leave no stone unturned in trying to stem the violence.”

The South African government deployed the army following the violence targeting African immigrants in Durban and Johannesburg. The country has also launched an ongoing crackdown on criminals and undocumented immigrants, code-named Operation Fiela. The operation is a joint one between the SA Police Service and the SA National Defence Force.

Zuma assured African leaders gathered at the summit that the controversial Operation Fiela was not anti-immigrant.

“Our police, supported by the army, have recovered illegal firearms. They have rescued children who have been victims of trafficking and have also pounced on drug making dens,” Zuma told the heads of state during a closed door session. His comments were released in media statement by his office.

“It must be emphasised that Operation Fiela targets all who are involved in crime and in fact, the majority of those arrested thus far are South Africans. Rumours that Fiela is an anti-foreign national campaign are not true. We are fighting crime to protect all in our country, citizens and nationals of other countries.

The high-level AU summit is being hosted by South Africa under the theme “2015: Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development Towards Africa’s Agenda 2063”.

Source: ANA/Citizen