Nigeria voices concern over continuing anti-immigrant violence in South Africa
Nigeria’s government has signaled growing unease over the persistence of anti-immigrant violence in South Africa, suggesting that what it describes as a long-running pattern of xenophobic hostility shows no clear signs of fading. The remarks underscore the depth of tensions between Africa’s two largest economies, which have periodically flared over the treatment of Nigerian nationals and other African migrants living in South Africa.
A recurring diplomatic flashpoint
Relations between Abuja and Pretoria have been tested repeatedly in recent years by reports of attacks targeting foreign nationals, including traders, workers and asylum seekers from across West and Central Africa. Nigerian officials have previously accused South African authorities of failing to provide adequate protection for migrants and of not confronting the political and social drivers of xenophobic sentiment with sufficient urgency. The latest comments from Abuja echo those longstanding grievances, framing the violence as a structural issue rather than a series of isolated incidents.
Pressure on Pretoria’s response
South Africa’s government has, in past statements, condemned outbreaks of xenophobic violence and pledged to hold perpetrators to account. Critics, however, have argued that such assurances have not translated into sustained action, with community organizations and diaspora groups continuing to document threats, looting and assaults aimed at African migrants. The perception of inadequate response has fuelled calls within Nigeria and elsewhere on the continent for tougher diplomatic measures, including the recall of officials and the suspension of bilateral engagements.
Broader implications for regional ties
Beyond the bilateral relationship, the issue touches on wider questions about migration, citizenship and economic competition across the African continent. Xenophobic incidents in South Africa have previously drawn expressions of concern from the African Union and from governments across the continent, which frame the free movement of people as central to continental integration. Nigerian officials have stressed that the safety of their citizens abroad remains a matter of state responsibility, and that continued violence risks undermining the spirit of pan-African cooperation that underpins regional trade and diplomatic frameworks.
As Abuja presses for clearer commitments from Pretoria, the dispute is likely to keep migration and xenophobia firmly on the agenda of continental diplomacy. The trajectory of the violence, rather than the rhetoric surrounding it, will determine whether the two governments can find a basis for moving beyond what Nigeria describes as an unresolved and dangerous situation.
Source: Al Jazeera — read the original report.
