Forget the Past, Repeat Your Past Mistakes!

Forget the Past, Repeat the Mistakes: Xenophobia and Africa’s Cycle of Scapegoating

The trending conversation across social media today is xenophobia in South Africa. Once again, there are calls from some South Africans demanding that other Africans leave their country. The grievances are familiar: foreigners are accused of taking jobs, increasing crime, overwhelming public services, and placing additional strain on already limited resources.

The reaction from the rest of Africa has been swift and overwhelmingly critical. Many Africans have reminded South Africa of the immense solidarity it received from fellow African nations during the struggle against Apartheid. Nigeria is frequently cited for its financial, diplomatic, and political support of the anti-Apartheid movement. For many Africans, it appears ironic that a country that once depended heavily on continental solidarity is now witnessing recurring waves of hostility toward fellow Africans.

Yet before we rush to condemn South Africa alone, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: xenophobia is not uniquely South African. It is an African problem.

Throughout modern African history, whenever economic hardship intensifies and governments struggle to meet the expectations of their citizens, migrants, especially fellow Africans often become convenient scapegoats.

In 1969, Ghana implemented the Alien Compliance Order, which led to the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants, many of whom were Nigerians. In 1970, Equatorial Guinea expelled tens of thousands of Nigerians, forcing many to flee under difficult and dangerous conditions.

Nigeria itself has not been immune to this pattern. In 1983 and again in 1985, the Nigerian government expelled more than a million undocumented migrants, many of them Ghanaians. The images of migrants carrying their belongings in the now-famous “Ghana Must Go” bags remain one of the most enduring symbols of mass expulsions in African history.

More recently, tensions have manifested within countries as well. In 2013, the Lagos State Government relocated groups of destitute persons, many of whom were of Igbo origin, back to eastern Nigeria, sparking national controversy. In 2017, a coalition of northern youth groups issued a controversial ultimatum ordering Igbos to leave Northern Nigeria, evoking painful memories of the ethnic tensions that preceded the Nigerian Civil War.

Indeed, Nigerians need no reminder of where such rhetoric can lead. The pogroms of 1966 and the widespread killings of Eastern Nigerians in Northern Nigeria remain among the darkest chapters in the nation's history. The resulting displacement of millions and the subsequent civil war left scars that continue to shape the country today.

South Africa itself has experienced repeated outbreaks of xenophobic violence. Major attacks occurred in 2008, 2015, 2019, and subsequent years. According to various human rights organizations and government reports, hundreds of people have been killed and thousands displaced during these episodes. The overwhelming majority of victims have been Africans from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, Ethiopia, Malawi, and other neighboring countries.

What explains this recurring phenomenon?

The answer is neither complicated nor uniquely African. Throughout history, struggling governments have often found it easier to redirect public frustration toward outsiders than to address the root causes of economic hardship. When unemployment rises, public services deteriorate, infrastructure crumbles, corruption flourishes, and opportunities become scarce, politicians and interest groups frequently point to immigrants rather than confront governance failures.

The facts tell a different story.

The challenges facing most African nations today did not begin with migrants. They stem from decades of poor governance, corruption, weak institutions, inadequate investment in education and infrastructure, and economic policies that have failed to create sufficient opportunities for rapidly growing populations.

A Nigerian trader did not create South Africa's unemployment crisis.

A Zimbabwean worker did not create Ghana's economic difficulties.

A Ghanaian migrant did not create Nigeria's infrastructure deficit.

A Somali shopkeeper did not create local government failures.

In most cases, migrants simply become the visible targets of frustrations caused by much deeper systemic problems.

The tragedy is that Africans often repeat this cycle without learning from history. The same countries that expel foreigners today may find their own citizens seeking refuge and opportunity elsewhere tomorrow. Economic fortunes change. Political conditions change. Migration flows change. The victims of yesterday can become the perpetrators of today, and vice versa.

Africa's future cannot be built on division.

The African Union's vision of continental integration, free movement of people, expanded trade, and economic cooperation recognizes a simple reality: Africa's prosperity depends on Africans working together, not turning against one another. The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) reflects the belief that our collective strength is greater than our individual weaknesses.

This does not mean governments should ignore illegal immigration, criminal activity, or pressure on public services. Every sovereign nation has the right and responsibility to regulate its borders and enforce its laws. However, there is a profound difference between enforcing immigration laws and demonizing entire communities based on nationality.

One approach upholds the rule of law.

The other fuels hatred, violence, and instability.

As Africans, we must resist the temptation to blame our neighbors for the failures of our leaders. We must demand accountability from those elected to govern. We must ask why jobs are scarce, why infrastructure is failing, why education systems are struggling, and why corruption remains pervasive. These questions are far more difficult than blaming foreigners, but they are also far more honest.

History teaches us that xenophobia solves nothing. It does not create jobs. It does not improve schools. It does not build roads. It does not reduce corruption. It does not strengthen economies.

It merely redirects public anger away from those responsible and toward those least able to defend themselves.

The next time politicians, activists, or social media influencers urge us to blame foreigners for our problems, we should remember our own history. We should remember Ghana in 1969, Equatorial Guinea in 1970, Nigeria in 1983, South Africa in 2008, and countless other examples across the continent.

Most importantly, we should remember that every African seeking a better life is, first and foremost, a human being.

Africa has enough challenges without Africans becoming enemies of one another.

Instead of issuing ultimatums and organizing expulsions, let us hold our leaders accountable. Let us demand competent governance, economic opportunity, security, and transparency. Let us solve the problems that create frustration rather than attack the people who happen to be nearby when frustration boils over.

If we forget our past, we are destined to repeat our mistakes.

And Africa can no longer afford that cycle.