Amby Uneze in Owerri
The US-based Virginia African Diaspora Committee has called the United Nations and the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently end the xenophobic activities going on in that country.
Chair of the organization, Princess Philomena Desmond-Ogugua made this call in US while addressing a group of Diasporan on the dangers of xenophobic attack against people from other nationas as it is currently happening in South Africa.
Desmond-Ogugua who is also Board Member, Virginia African American Advisory Board to the Governor of Virginia, US reminded President Ramaphosa and the Government of South Africa that the world is watching as his black citizens are chasing, attacking, and killing fellow Africans, including Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Malawians, Congolese, Mozambicans, Somalis on the streets of South Africa.
She recalled "when apartheid chained you, when white South Africa treated you as less than human, it was these same African nations that stood with you.
According to her Nigeria set up the 'South Africa Relief Fund' and gave millions of Dollars to aid the blacks in that country. Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania became frontline states, sheltering your freedom fighters at great cost.
"African blood was shed for your liberation. Our governments boycotted, sanctioned, and fought so you could be free. Now that you're free, some of your citizens turn around to hunt the children of those who fought for you. This is betrayal of the highest order. And the silence of your government is complicity."
The Vice-Chair, Lobito Corridor Economic Development Alliance charged South African President to publicly condemn the xenophobic attacks and deploy security forces to protect all Africans in South Africa.
She however urged South African government to arrest, prosecute, and being the perpetrators to book, adding that "you cannot claim leadership in Africa while Africans are being butchered under your watch.
I call on the United Nations Secretary-General to speak out now and condemn the attack, stressing "xenophobia is a crime against humanity. The African Union should suspend South Africa’s membership until it guarantees the safety of all Africans on its soil. You cannot have a member state waging war on your citizens.
"To every African leader: If you stay silent today, it will be your citizens tomorrow. South Africa, we loved you when you had nothing. Don’t make us regret it. Enough is enough. #StopXenophobia #ProtectAfricansInSA #AfricanUnity #AccountabilityNow," she stated.
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