SECAM Voices Strong Concerns About Violence Targeting Foreign Nationals in South Africa
Accra – The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has voiced significant concern over the recent occurrences in South Africa, marked by xenophobic violence directed towards individuals from other African countries.
“In these particularly dire circumstances, SECAM expresses its fraternal and ecclesial solidarity with the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) for its brave stance in support of African migrants who face discrimination and xenophobia,” the organization responsible for communion, consultation, and coordination of the Catholic Church in Africa and its neighboring islands remarked on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.
SECAM also conveyed its heartfelt condolences to all those affected by this violence, including their families who have endured significant suffering.
“At the heart of this crisis lies a profound challenge to human conscience,” SECAM noted.
“Biblical teachings affirm that each person is created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26-27), a truth that strengthens the immeasurable dignity of every individual, regardless of their origin, nationality, tribe, culture, or migration status.”
SECAM emphasized that this dignity should be the foundational criterion for all social structures and public policies.
SECAM stated: “Any violence directed at foreigners constitutes not only a serious breach of human rights but also undermines the principles of universal brotherhood and the Africa we aspire to build.”
SECAM reiterated the importance of balancing the legitimate sovereignty of states with the essential need for migrants to respect the laws and customs of their host nations.
As indicated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may impose various legal conditions on the exercise of the right to immigrate, particularly regarding the responsibilities of immigrants to their host country.”
“Immigrants are expected to value and respect the material and spiritual heritage of the host nation, adhere to its laws, and partake in civic duties.” (CCC, n. 2241).
SECAM condemned the recent acts of violence in South Africa as a serious breach of African principles and continental law.
“These actions contravene the fundamental rights guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, notably the rights to life, dignity, security, and equality before the law,” SECAM stated.
“They also contradict the continent’s foundational values, including African solidarity and the Ubuntu spirit – I am because we are – along with the principles of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.”
In light of these alarming developments, SECAM calls on the South African Government to implement immediate, concrete, and sustainable measures to protect all individuals within its borders, in accordance with its continental and international responsibilities.
SECAM urged for impartial investigations into these events, insisting that those responsible be identified and prosecuted, vigilante justice curtailed, and the legitimate authority of the state reinforced.
SECAM also called upon the African Union to take full responsibility for upholding continental values, ensuring effective enforcement of African human rights laws, and fostering mechanisms to prevent and address xenophobic violence.
The credibility of Africa, striving to emerge as a significant player on the global stage, is at stake.
SECAM urged individuals to reject all forms of violence, hate speech, and stigmatization, avoiding divisive rhetoric among African peoples, and instead fostering a culture of understanding, dialogue, and pan-African solidarity.
“Drawing inspiration from the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30–35), we must rediscover an ethic of empathy, recognizing that the stranger is not a threat, but rather a brother or sister who we are called to protect,” remarked Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa
President of SECAM.
“At this critical juncture, SECAM reaffirms its enduring commitment to migrants, the impoverished, and the most vulnerable, advocating for a society grounded in justice, peace, human dignity, and dialogue among African peoples and nations.
It invites all people of goodwill to actively pursue the creation of a reconciled Africa, dedicated to embodying a family of peoples united in dignity and solidarity, from Cairo to Cape Town.”
SECAM assured all victims of xenophobic violence of its spiritual, pastoral, and supportive presence: “Dear brothers and sisters, you are not alone; we will never abandon you.”
Meanwhile, the South African Presidency has contested the characterization of anti-immigrant protests as xenophobic.
This topic was discussed during the visit of Mozambique President Daniel Chapo to South Africa earlier this week.
However, Presidents Chapo and Cyril Ramaphosa concurred that South Africa is not inherently xenophobic.
In a press conference on Wednesday, 6 May 2026, President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, stated: “South Africa is not xenophobic… South Africans are not xenophobic.
“What we have are pockets of protests… which are permissible within our constitutional framework.
“Moreover, the issue of immigration acts as a pressure point, not just in South Africa but globally, where similar protests occur.
“From our perspective, it is vital to honor the rights of everyone within our borders… and to ensure that protests are conducted peacefully without causing harm to anyone.”
The spokesperson also revealed that Presidents Ramaphosa and Chapo agreed that the continent must collaborate in addressing the root causes contributing to high levels of migration within Africa.
Magwenya pointed to conflicts, instability, and poor governance as key drivers of migration.
“The condemnation we have received from various sectors across the continent should spur us to more than mere denunciations; it should also encourage constructive engagement on the issues and factors prompting individuals to leave their home countries in search of safety elsewhere.”