Hi
Thank you, Solomon for raising this issue.
cc LPM, I appreciate your perspective, and I agree that illegal immigration is a legitimate concern for every sovereign nation. However, we also cannot ignore the growing evidence that many attacks and acts of intimidation in South Africa have gone beyond undocumented migration and have affected legally documented African nationals as well.
The Government of Ghana would not begin the evacuation and repatriation of close to 300 Ghanaian citizens if there were no genuine safety concerns. Reuters, AP News, and several international media outlets have recently reported on anti-immigrant protests, violence, intimidation, and growing fears among foreign African communities in South Africa. Similar concerns have also been raised by Nigeria and other African countries.
We have also seen reports and public incidents involving foreign nationals being denied or obstructed from accessing certain public services, including healthcare, while groups such as Operation Dudula have openly targeted migrants, both documented and undocumented.
My point is not to condemn all South Africans. Many South Africans themselves have spoken against xenophobia. The issue is that perception, safety, and inclusiveness matter for an international professional gathering like ENGAGE. If a significant number of African members feel unsafe or unwelcome, then CIMA should seriously consider whether another venue may better reflect the spirit of pan-African unity and professional solidarity.
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Paul Issifu
Mennonite Economic Development Associates Of Canada
Accra
+233203149548
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-28-2026 02:57
From: Lesego Mawasha
Subject: CIMA ENGAGE 2026
Hi
Not too sure what is meant by what is happening in SA. There are no xenophobic attacks in South Africa. What is being marched against is what is happening globally where there is a migration issue. The protesting SA citizens are concerned about people that do not have the correct documentation to be in SA. This is a matter of legality and not xenophobic.
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LPM
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