đź“° News Report

The Nigerian government has announced it will formally summon South Africa’s senior diplomat in Nigeria on Monday to express its “profound concern” over recent violence targeting foreign migrants — particularly Nigerian citizens — in South Africa.

According to a spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting will focus on recent marches organized by anti-migrant groups in South Africa and “documented instances of mistreatment of Nigerian citizens and attacks on their businesses.” The spokesperson warned that such incidents could negatively affect the existing relationship between the two nations.

Escalating Violence

According to local South African media reports, at least two Nigerian citizens and four Ethiopian nationals have been killed in anti-migrant violence in recent weeks, with citizens of other African countries also targeted. Anti-migrant groups have been stopping people outside hospitals and schools, demanding to see their identification documents.

Last week, during a march by one such group in the capital Pretoria, foreign-owned businesses were publicly urged to close to “avoid violence.” A Nigerian man told BBC Pidgin: “It is not okay because we are blacks, we are brothers… everybody comes here just to survive.”

South African Government Response

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has publicly condemned the attacks but also cautioned foreign migrants to respect local laws. In his Freedom Day address last week — marking the country’s first democratic elections in 1994 — he reminded South Africans of the support other African nations had given during the anti-apartheid struggle.

However, some South Africans accuse foreign migrants of illegal residence, taking jobs from locals, and links to criminal activity — particularly drug trafficking.

Growing Diplomatic Impact

Last month, Ghana summoned South Africa’s top envoy over a similar incident. A widely shared video showed a Ghanaian man being challenged to prove he had the correct immigration papers.

Analysts warn that if mishandled, this crisis could impact the broader African free movement agreements and regional economic integration. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) relies partly on the free movement of people and goods.

Source: BBC News