Lawyer and former minister Vicky Bright has expressed concern over recent xenophobic violence on the continent, describing it as a stark contradiction to Africa's long-standing vision of unity, integration and economic cooperation.

Speaking on JoyNews on Monday, May 25, 2026, Bright argued that while African leaders continue to champion continental integration through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, recurring attacks on foreign nationals reveal deeper social and political challenges that threaten those ambitions.

She pointed to the AfCFTA as one of Africa's most significant integration projects, noting that its success depends not only on trade agreements but also on the willingness of African countries and their citizens to embrace one another.

“The entire philosophy behind AfCFTA is the free movement of people, goods, services and investment,” she said.

According to Bright, the promise of continental integration cannot be fully realised if Africans continue to face hostility, discrimination and violence in other African countries.

She warned that economic and political frameworks alone would not be enough to unite the continent unless they are accompanied by a broader change in attitudes and social relations.

“We remain small parochial states making noise about nothing,” she said.

Bright stressed that Africa risks undermining its own development agenda if governments pursue regional and continental integration without addressing the prejudices and divisions that continue to exist within societies.

Despite her criticism of xenophobic attacks, she cautioned against portraying all South Africans as supporters of such actions. She noted that many South Africans reject violence against foreign nationals and should not be unfairly blamed for the actions of a few.

NA/BAI

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