Nigeria urges South Africa to halt xenophobic attacks

Nigeria has formally called on South Africa to take decisive action to halt recurring violent attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals, following a high-level diplomatic meeting in Abuja on Monday, July 27, 2026. The meeting, led by South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola as a special envoy from President Cyril Ramaphosa, aimed to address tensions stemming from xenophobic violence that has strained relations between Africa's two largest economies.

Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Sola Enikanlaiye, representing President Bola Tinubu, expressed deep concern over the persistent attacks. He stated that official records indicate at least 98 Nigerians have been killed in mob and hate-related violence in South Africa since 2022, with five fatalities reported in 2026. He added that some repatriated citizens believe the actual death toll is higher.

Enikanlaiye described the recent evacuation of nearly 1,500 Nigerians from South Africa as a heartbreaking humanitarian crisis. He recounted witnessing women, children, and elderly citizens returning home with almost nothing after their properties were looted and...