The Federal Government has condemned the recurring xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, urging the South African government to take immediate steps to end the violence and protect foreign residents.
President Bola Tinubu declined to personally receive a special envoy from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, directing the delegation, led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, to meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who will brief the President on the discussions.
Speaking after the meeting in Abuja, Enikanolaiye described the attacks as a persistent pattern of Afrophobia dating back to 1995, noting that 98 Nigerians have died in hate-related attacks since 2022. He stressed that while Nigeria does not support criminality, suspects should face lawful prosecution rather than mob justice, and expressed concern over alleged inaction by South African security agencies during some attacks.
The minister also recalled the humanitarian impact of previous attacks, revealing that nearly 1,500 Nigerians had been evacuated from South Africa after losing their homes and belongings. He urged South African authorities to uphold human rights and ensure the safety of all lawful residents.
In response, Lamola said President Ramaphosa remains firmly opposed to xenophobia, racism and all forms of discrimination, but maintained that South Africa would continue enforcing its immigration laws and tackling criminal activities. He added that migration remains a continental challenge requiring cooperation between African nations to ease tensions and promote lasting solutions.
