Mandela Chose Unity Over Power – ICC Petitioner Urges Africa to End Xenophobic Attacks

A legal member behind a petition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on South Africans xenophobic attacks on other African nationals, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has invoked the legacy of Nelson Mandela to call for an end to xenophobic attacks in South Africa, urging Africans to embrace love, unity and peaceful coexistence.

Speaking on the issue of xenophobia on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, Dr. Boakye-Danquah said Mandela dedicated his life to uniting South Africans regardless of race, even after spending 27 years in prison under apartheid.
He noted that despite the suffering he endured, Mandela chose forgiveness over revenge, stressing that South Africans must emulate his example by showing love to one another and even other African nationals.

According to him, Mandela had every opportunity to remain in office for a second term but voluntarily stepped down after one term, handing over power in the interest of democracy and national unity.

Dr. Boakye-Danquah also reflected on South Africa’s political history, citing the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance (DA), and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) led by Julius Malema as key political forces shaping the country’s democratic landscape.

He lamented that xenophobic attacks have persisted over the years, with migrants allegedly being unlawfully evicted from their homes over documentation issues.
“We rallied against it, but the attacks continued until it’s escalation that compelled the Government of Ghana to begin evacuating its citizens,” he stated.

Describing South Africa and Botswana as two of the Southern Hemisphere’s richest countries in mineral resources, he said South Africa hosts millions of immigrants seeking employment and better opportunities.

He added that unemployment among indigens in South Africa is because most of them are not skilled, noting that people often see South Africans holding placards under traffic light with inscription ” give me work”. However, other African nationals sees job opportunities in the country hence the heavy migration to seek greener pastures.

Dr. Boakye-Danquah further questioned what he described as the silence of the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), and other international organizations over recurring xenophobic violence.
He revealed this compelled him and his brother, Emmanuel Kutin, to petitioned the International Criminal Court over the matter, expressing optimism that the case will receive further attention.
“Our petition has received a lot of acclamation across the world. We are optimistic and will pursue the matter to the latter. If we have to visit the ICC, we will,” he said.

By Maurice Otoo