Nigeria has urged the South African government to take stronger action against recurring xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African migrants, warning that the violence is straining bilateral relations amid concerns about the state’s response.
The concerns were raised during talks in Abuja between Nigerian officials and a South African delegation led by International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, who was sent by President Cyril Ramaphosa as a special envoy.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, said President Bola Tinubu directed that the meeting address what he described as persistent “Afrophobic” attacks against Nigerians and other African migrants living in South Africa.
The diplomatic intervention follows months of anti-immigrant protests and vigilante attacks in South Africa, where foreign nationals have been assaulted and foreign-owned businesses looted amid claims by some groups that migrants contribute to crime and unemployment. At least four people have been killed in the latest violence, while about 1,490 Nigerians have been evacuated from South Africa.
Enikanolaiye said the attacks reflected a long-standing pattern of violence dating back to 1995, adding that at least 98 Nigerians had been killed in xenophobic incidents since 2022. He also alleged that Nigerian authorities had documented cases where police failed to intervene during attacks, raising questions about whether state authorities were unwilling or unable to protect foreign nationals.
He stressed that Nigeria does not defend criminal activity by its citizens abroad but said suspects should be arrested and prosecuted through the legal system rather than subjected to mob violence.
“If there are criminals, the solution is not to kill them. Get them arrested, prosecuted,” he said.
Lamola reaffirmed South Africa’s opposition to xenophobia, racism and discrimination, saying the government remained committed to protecting all people living in the country regardless of nationality. He also pledged that those responsible for recent attacks would face prosecution.
The latest diplomatic engagement comes as anti-immigrant sentiment has intensified in South Africa, prompting growing concern among several African governments and threatening regional cooperation. The issue has also sparked renewed debate over migrant protection and the free movement of people under Africa’s broader integration agenda.
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Emmanuel Abara Benson is a business journalist and editor covering artificial intelligence, global markets, and emerging technology.
He has previously worked with Business Insider Africa and Nairametrics, reporting on finance, startups, and innovation.
His work focuses on AI, digital economy, and global tech trends.
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