ITUC-Africa strongly condemns all forms of racism, hate speech, ethnic profiling, violence, and discrimination directed at migrant workers and foreign nationals. Migrants are not responsible for unemployment, economic hardship, insecurity, or social crises facing African societies. They are often victims of the same structural inequalities, exploitation, unemployment, and governance failures affecting workers and poor communities across the continent.

We are deeply concerned by recent anti-Africans calls in Tunisia and the resurgence of attacks and intimidation against African migrants in South Africa. Such actions threaten social cohesion, democratic values, and the long-standing spirit of Pan-African solidarity and unity.
Trade unions reject all attempts to divide workers through fear, misinformation, and hatred. Workers — regardless of nationality or migration status — share common struggles for dignity, decent work, social protection, and economic justice.

ITUC-Africa calls on governments to ensure the protection and safety of migrants, prevent xenophobic violence and hate speech, protect human rights defenders and trade unionists, and adopt rights-based migration policies aligned with international labour standards and African Union frameworks.

Africa’s future must be built on solidarity, equality, dignity, and social justice — not fear and division.

Issued on May 21, 2026 in Lome, Togo.

Akhator Joel Odigie
General Secretary
ITUC-Africa