The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on South Africa to urgently curb xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye made the appeal on Tuesday during a virtual roundtable on “South Africa’s Xenophobia in Comparative Perspective,” organised by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.
Enikanolaiye described the violence as “a particularly African, post-colonial and post-apartheid character,” stressing that it was disturbing to see citizens of countries that supported South Africa’s liberation now treated as “unwanted outsiders.”
He revealed that about 90 Nigerians had been killed since June 2022, with new attacks and displacements recorded in 2026.
He warned that the violence could harm South Africa’s global image, investor confidence, and regional integration efforts.
The minister urged South African authorities to:
Strengthen migration systems and ensure enforcement only by government agencies.
Prevent vigilantism and discourage inflammatory rhetoric labeling migrants as “criminals” or “job thieves”.
Activate early-warning and rapid-response systems to address tensions before they escalate.
Enikanolaiye also highlighted Nigeria’s historic support for South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, noting contributions worth over $60 billion, scholarships, and accommodation for liberation leaders.
“There is blood, sacrifice and solidarity in that history,” he said.He called for responsible leadership, better migration policies, and stronger African unity to prevent further violence against migrants.
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