Two Ghanaian nationals have petitioned the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate xenophobic violence against migrants in South Africa, arguing that the attacks may constitute crimes against humanity.

The petition, submitted on 15 July 2026, alleges a pattern of widespread and systematic assaults on foreign nationals, with President Cyril Ramaphosa's government accused of failing to address the crisis.

The plaintiffs, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah and Emmanuel Kotin, highlight that African migrants have been killed, beaten, and displaced in recent months, prompting tens of thousands to flee the country.

Ghana's President John Mahama urged the African Union to tackle the escalating anti-immigrant violence, emphasizing that ignoring the issue would fail to resolve its root causes.South Africa's foreign affairs ministry dismissed the petition as opportunistic, citing domestic legal frameworks to combat discrimination.

Meanwhile, over 160,000 migrants from countries like Zimbabwe and Malawi have returned home amid the unrest, with some fatalities reported during repatriation efforts.

The ICC has not yet confirmed whether it will pursue the case, while South Africa's government continues to face scrutiny for its handling of the crisis.