In their final communiqué, the regional bloc described the treatment of West African citizens as “despicable” and a “recurrent phenomenon.” ECOWAS leaders urged South African authorities to ensure the safety of all African nationals within their borders. Furthermore, the bloc expressed support for Ghana’s proposal to elevate the matter to the African Union Assembly to seek a permanent diplomatic solution to the crisis.
This regional concern follows reports of organized anti-immigrant activities within South Africa, including actions by groups such as Operation Dudula and the March and March movement. These groups have engaged in door-to-door document checks and the eviction of foreign nationals. While protesters claim to target undocumented migrants, observers note that the distinction between legal and illegal residents is often blurred in practice.
Data scientists and migration experts suggest that the current wave of sentiment is not solely organic. Kyle Findlay of Murmur Intelligence, following an analysis of nearly four million social media posts, indicated signs of paid influence campaigns designed to amplify anti-immigrant narratives. Loren Landau of the African Centre for Migration & Society stated that xenophobia in this context has become a “highly profitable industry.”
Economists note that while South Africa faces extreme social inequality—with a Gini coefficient of 0.63 and youth unemployment exceeding 60%—the scapegoating of migrants lacks factual basis. Estimates suggest that even if all foreign workers were removed, the national unemployment rate would remain significantly high, pointing to deeper structural issues in the post-apartheid economy rather than migration as the primary driver of domestic hardship.