Sola Enikanolaiye, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, is engaging in discussions with Ronald Lamola, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. The meeting addresses the rise in xenophobic incidents targeting Nigerian citizens within South Africa. President Bola Tinubu initiated these talks to confront the ongoing hostility directly.
The Nigerian government has urged South Africa to implement immediate, decisive measures to halt the violence directed at Nigerians and other African residents. Enikanolaiye warned that these hostilities endanger the long-standing strategic alliance between the two major African economies. He highlighted the historical ties between the nations, noting Nigeria’s role in supporting South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement and their joint efforts in forming the African Union and NEPAD.
Official records indicate a history of such violence dating back to 1995, with incidents recurring periodically through 2026. Following recent outbreaks, Nigeria has already evacuated 1,490 of its citizens from the region. Notably, President Tinubu previously opted not to meet with a special representative sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
