Nigeria's Shettima Addresses Xenophobia at UN Assembly

At the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima delivered a significant address on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, marking a pivotal moment in Nigerian foreign policy. Shettima's diplomatic journey spanned three weeks, covering Luanda, New Delhi, and New York, where he articulated a coherent doctrine advocating for Africa's development and solidarity.

In Luanda, during the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, Nigeria formally expressed concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa, urging that the issue be placed on the agenda for the 40th Ordinary Session in January 2027. This formal referral aims to elevate the discussion of xenophobia from social media to official AU records.

Shettima also conveyed a critique of fragmented peace initiatives in Africa, emphasizing the need for collective action and caution against reliance on foreign military forces.