Key facts
- Nigeria has urged South Africa to increase efforts to prevent xenophobic attacks on migrants.
- Abuja cited a pattern of violence dating back to 1995, with at least 98 Nigerians killed since 2022.
- South African vigilantes have attacked foreign nationals and looted shops, with protesters calling for undocumented migrants to leave.
- At least 1,490 Nigerians have been evacuated from South Africa.
- Nigeria questioned the willingness and ability of South African authorities to protect foreign nationals.
Nigeria has called on South Africa to intensify efforts to prevent xenophobic attacks against Nigerian and other African migrants, expressing concern over persistent violence that is straining bilateral relations. The Nigerian government highlighted a pattern of attacks dating back to 1995, stating that at least 98 Nigerians have been killed in such incidents since 2022. Abuja also raised questions about the complicity of South African authorities if they are unwilling or unable to protect foreign nationals, noting that police have appeared reluctant to intervene.
During talks in Abuja between Nigerian officials and a South African delegation led by Special Envoy Ronald Lamola, Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, conveyed President Bola Tinubu's directive to address the issue. Enikanolaiye emphasized that while Nigeria does not condone criminal activity by its citizens abroad, suspects should face due process rather than mob violence. South Africa's Lamola asserted that President Cyril Ramaphosa's government is firmly against xenophobia, racism, and discrimination.
Recent anti-immigrant protests in South Africa have seen vigilantes attack foreign nationals and loot shops, with protesters demanding undocumented migrants leave. At least four people have been killed in these incidents. Nigerian officials reported that approximately 1,490 Nigerians have been evacuated from South Africa since the latest outbreak of xenophobic violence. South Africa, as Africa's most industrialized economy, has historically attracted migrants from various African nations, including Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, and Malawi.