Two Ghanaians have reportedly petitioned the International Criminal Court to investigate the attacks against foreign nationals, especially black Africans, in South Africa, which have been described as xenophobia or Afrophobia.

According to a report by reuters.com, the petition was filed by Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a former Ghanaian government spokesperson on governance and security, and Emmanuel Kotin, a counter-terrorism and security analyst, who say the attacks constitute crimes against humanity.

They accuse the government of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa of failing to prevent the attacks, which they say have become “widespread and systematic”, and also failing to punish the people responsible for the crimes, including murder.

"For years, African brothers and sisters have been killed, beaten, and driven from their homes in South Africa.

"While we commend individuals in South Africa who have condemned these acts, the pattern, scale, and recurrence of the violence raise serious questions about the failure of state authorities to prevent, investigate, and punish these crimes," part of a press release issued by the petitioners read.

The report also indicated that the South African government has opposed the petition.

A spokesperson for South Africa's Foreign Affairs Ministry, Chrispin Phiri, is reported to have described the petition as opportunistic.

"South Africa has a sophisticated domestic legal framework and legislation provides comprehensive safeguards and enforcement measures against discrimination of any kind, including intolerance on the grounds of social origin," the spokesperson is quoted as having said by Reuters.

South Africa has in recent months witnessed renewed attacks and protests targeting foreign nationals, particularly migrants from other African countries. The tensions have been linked to concerns over unemployment, crime and access to public services, with some groups blaming foreign nationals for the country's socio-economic challenges.



The unrest has reportedly resulted in attacks, intimidation, looting and the displacement of migrants, raising concerns among African governments about the safety of their citizens living in South Africa.

A Ghanaian national, identified as Bashiru Isak, was reportedly shot and killed in Cape Town's Khayelitsha township amid the unrest. Ghanaian authorities have linked the death to the anti-immigrant tensions and xenophobic attacks, while South African authorities have disputed the account and indicated that the incident was being investigated as an extortion-related crime.

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