Nigeria and South Africa have agreed to de-escalate diplomatic tensions following a wave of xenophobic violence that targeted foreign nationals in South African cities, according to statements released by both governments on July 28.
Abuja Summit Sets New Course for Bilateral Ties
The bilateral discussions, held in Abuja on Monday, resulted in commitments from Pretoria to prosecute attackers and from Abuja to compile compensation claims for affected citizens. It marks a concerted effort to repair ties between Africa’s two biggest economies.
High-Level Officials Meet to Lower Public Rhetoric
The meeting brought together Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, and South African International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola. They convened to address a fresh strain on bilateral relations triggered by recent unrest in South Africa.
During the unrest, vigilante groups repeatedly targeted foreign African nationals and looted migrant-owned businesses. Anti-immigrant protesters had marched through several South African cities in June, demanding that undocumented migrants leave the country.
“We agreed that we should de-escalate the tension that had erupted between our two countries and our people,” Enikanolaiye stated following the talks, as reported by Reuters. He emphasized that both governments intend to lower the temperature of public discourse and preserve cooperation channels built over decades.
Repatriation Figures and Financial Recourse
In the wake of the unrest, the Nigerian foreign ministry reported that approximately 1,490 citizens were repatriated from South Africa by July 16. During Monday’s meetings, Abuja pressed for formal financial recourse for those who fled the violence.
Enikanolaiye noted that South Africa assured Nigerian officials that perpetrators of the attacks would face prosecution. Concurrently, the Nigerian government is compiling detailed claims for property losses suffered by its nationals. According to Reuters, these documented losses could form the basis of future formal compensation discussions between the two administrations.
Institutional Safeguards and Demands for Accountability
To prevent future flare-ups, Nigeria pushed for stronger institutional safeguards to protect its expatriate population. Enikanolaiye outlined demands for an early warning system, increased police protection in violence-prone neighborhoods, and direct accountability for those behind the attacks.
South African Minister Ronald Lamola responded by condemning “all forms of xenophobia” during the Abuja talks, stressing that vigilantes had no legal authority to take matters into their own hands.
“The protest and the violence that is happening is not state-sponsored, it is not condoned by the South African government,” Lamola said, according to Reuters coverage.
Tackling Cross-Border Criminality Through the Courts
While Pretoria committed to curbing anti-migrant violence, Lamola maintained that the South African government remains deeply concerned about criminal activities allegedly involving some Nigerian nationals. Specifically, he pointed to drug trafficking and cybercrime as ongoing challenges that strain social cohesion.
However, Lamola stressed that these offenses must be handled strictly through legal and judicial channels rather than through mob or vigilante action. “We have agreed that all issues of criminality must be dealt with in terms of the law,” Lamola said, adding that South African law enforcement authorities are actively pursuing arrests and prosecutions linked to the recent unrest.
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