By Michael Olaogun
The African proverb that says “a tree does not make a forest” captures the essence of the continent’s struggle for unity and collective progress. Yet, in recent years, South Africa has repeatedly found itself at the center of a disturbing phenomenon that threatens the very spirit of Pan-Africanism.
The metaphor of “eating the lungs” of fellow Africans may sound harsh, but it accurately reflects the self-destructive nature of these attacks. The lungs are essential for breathing and sustaining life. When South Africans target Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Ethiopians, Somalis, Mozambicans, and other African nationals living within their borders, they are attacking individuals who contribute significantly to the country’s economy, innovation, and cultural diversity. In essence, they are harming a vital organ of the African body.
The tragedy is particularly painful because South Africa’s liberation from apartheid was not achieved in isolation. Across the continent, African nations made sacrifices to support the anti-apartheid struggle. Countries such as Nigeria provided financial assistance, diplomatic backing, scholarships, and moral support to the liberation movement. Many African states offered sanctuary to South African freedom fighters when their homeland was hostile to their existence. The victory against apartheid was celebrated not merely as a South African triumph but as an African achievement.
Today, however, the images of African-owned businesses being looted, foreign nationals being assaulted, and communities living in fear paint a troubling picture. The justification often advanced by perpetrators is that foreigners are taking jobs, committing crimes, or straining public services. While economic frustrations and unemployment are genuine challenges, directing anger toward fellow Africans neither solves these problems nor addresses their root causes.
The reality is that unemployment, inequality, corruption, poor service delivery, and economic stagnation are structural issues that require policy solutions, not mob justice. Blaming immigrants has become an easy political distraction from the deeper governance failures that affect millions of South Africans. Xenophobia provides a convenient scapegoat but offers no sustainable remedy.
Furthermore, these attacks undermine South Africa’s standing as a leader on the African continent. The country has long projected itself as a champion of human rights, democracy, and African cooperation. Xenophobic violence erodes this moral authority and damages diplomatic relations with neighboring countries. Every attack sends a message that African solidarity is conditional and that the ideals of unity can be abandoned in times of hardship.
The economic consequences are equally severe. Foreign-owned businesses create jobs, pay taxes, and stimulate local economies. Their destruction discourages investment, reduces economic activity, and deepens the very poverty and unemployment that fuel social tensions. In a globalized world, prosperity is built through cooperation, not exclusion.
African leaders must also share responsibility for addressing this challenge. Silence or weak condemnation emboldens perpetrators. Governments across the continent, together with institutions such as the African Union, must move beyond rhetoric and develop practical mechanisms for protecting African citizens wherever they reside on the continent. The dream of a united Africa cannot coexist with the normalization of violence against fellow Africans.
Equally important is the need for civic education. Younger generations must be reminded of the history of African solidarity that helped dismantle apartheid. They must understand that migration is not a crime and that Africans share common destinies that transcend national borders. The challenges facing the continent, poverty, insecurity, climate change, and underdevelopment require collective action rather than mutual hostility.
South Africa remains one of Africa’s most influential nations, blessed with immense human and natural resources. Its future prosperity depends not on building walls against fellow Africans but on strengthening bridges of cooperation. Xenophobia is not merely an attack on foreigners; it is an attack on the African ideal itself.
When South Africans turn against fellow Africans, they are indeed eating the lungs of those who have shared in their struggles and aspirations. In doing so, they risk suffocating the very spirit of solidarity that once helped liberate their nation. Africa deserves better. South Africa deserves better. The time has come to reject xenophobia and embrace the vision of an Africa united not by geography alone, but by shared humanity and mutual respect.
Michael Olaogun, a policy researcher and democracy observer wrote from Abuja.