On Monday, Nigerian authorities formally addressed their concerns regarding the ongoing aggression against Nigerians in South Africa, which led to a recent mass repatriation of citizens. President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a special envoy to Abuja to stabilize diplomatic relations following repeated incidents of xenophobic violence targeting foreign residents.
President Bola Tinubu chose not to meet with the South African delegation personally, assigning the task to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye. During their discussion, Enikanolaiye reported that hostility toward migrants has resulted in the deaths of at least 98 Nigerians since 2022. He characterized these recurring attacks as a major point of contention for the Nigerian state.
The Minister described the emotional toll of witnessing the arrival of citizens fleeing the unrest. He remarked that he was moved to tears seeing elderly people, women, and children returning with their possessions destroyed or stolen, noting that such brutality contradicts the vision for a unified Africa. In reply, the head of the South African team, Ronald Lamola, expressed gratitude for Nigeria’s past support and emphasized that the administration of President Ramaphosa does not condone violence directed at immigrants.
