Nigeria's parliament announced Friday that it is indefinitely suspending official visits to South Africa in response to ongoing anti-immigrant protests that have targeted Africans. The decision reflects deep concern over the safety of Nigerian citizens residing and conducting business in South Africa.
In a statement, Kamoru Ogunlana, the clerk to Nigeria’s National Assembly, highlighted the parliament's distress regarding reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced, and forced to abandon their properties due to the persistent violent attacks. He described the suspension as a "strong expression" of the parliament's worry over the welfare of Nigerians in South Africa.
South Africa has historically been a destination for migrants from across the African continent, including many Nigerians, drawn by its relatively stronger economy and opportunities. However, these migrants have frequently been subjected to xenophobic violence. Protesters in South Africa often attribute high unemployment, crime rates, and strain on public services to the presence of foreign nationals.
Earlier this year, two Nigerians were killed in anti-migrant violence in South Africa shortly before an unofficial deadline set by protesters for foreigners to leave the country. Nigeria's foreign ministry indicated that one of these individuals was allegedly killed by police officers, while the other was killed by unidentified assailants.
Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, met with South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola in Abuja in July to address the recurring violence. During this meeting, Enikanolaiye stated that at least 98 Nigerians had been killed since 2022 through mob attacks, hate-motivated violence, and extrajudicial killings.
Official figures from South Africa indicate that nearly 90,000 individuals have either been voluntarily repatriated or deported since tensions over migration began. However, data from the home countries of the migrants suggests a higher total, around 178,000.