Nigeria Raises Alarm Over Xenophobic Threats In South Africa, Begins Evacuation Plans
Fresh fears over the safety of Nigerians in South Africa have triggered diplomatic tensions, as Nigeria moves to evacuate citizens willing to return home following renewed anti-foreigner protests and rising xenophobic rhetoric in the country.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that she held a telephone conversation with South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ronald Lamola, over the growing concerns linked to recent protests in Durban and reports of harassment and extra-judicial killings involving Nigerians.
According to her, the Nigerian government could no longer “stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation” of its citizens in South Africa, stressing that evacuation arrangements for Nigerians willing to leave had become an urgent priority.
The minister also condemned reports that Nigerian children and those born to Nigerian-South African parents, popularly referred to as “Sougerians”, are being bullied in schools and told to “return to their country”, describing the situation as traumatic and unacceptable.
While South African authorities reportedly assured Nigeria of efforts to protect affected families and discourage such behaviour, Odumegwu-Ojukwu questioned whether the attacks should now be described as “Afriphobia” rather than xenophobia, noting that black Africans appeared to be the main targets.
She added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed Nigerian missions in South Africa to immediately establish crisis notification units to assist distressed citizens.
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