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Nigerian government has warned that it will not accept attacks on its citizens living in South Africa as anti-migrant protests begin across the country.
Ademola Oshodi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs, said Nigeria expects the South African government to take immediate steps to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals.
The demonstrations are being organised by anti-immigration groups, including March and March, which had earlier given undocumented migrants a deadline of June 30 to leave South Africa.
Although the organisers insist the protests are aimed only at undocumented foreigners and will remain peaceful, many legal migrants have reported intimidation and harassment.
March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said the group does not support violence or looting and maintained that no one would be harmed during the demonstrations.
“We are not calling for violence … No one will be killed on 30 June and no looting will take place in our name,” Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, the leader of March and March, said.
Despite those assurances, at least two Nigerians have reportedly lost their lives since anti-foreigner attacks resurfaced in South Africa.
Reacting to the situation, Oshodi said Nigeria had repeatedly raised concerns with the South African authorities and now expects concrete action.
“The warning is simple: Nigeria expects action. Investigate every reported attack, protect Nigerian communities, restrain vigilante groups, prosecute wrongdoing, and activate the Nigeria–South Africa Early Warning Mechanism without further delay,” he said.
“South Africa has every right to enforce its immigration laws. But that responsibility belongs to the state, through lawful institutions, not to mobs, vigilante groups, or political movements targeting foreign nationals. No African should be attacked, threatened, denied healthcare, pushed out of business, or humiliated because of where they come from.
“Africa cannot speak of unity while Africans remain unsafe in Africa. Coups, xenophobia, weak border cooperation, inherited colonial divisions, and dependence on outside powers continue to pull the continent apart.
“What should bring us together is more urgent: the protection of African lives, democracy that delivers, stronger security cooperation, lawful movement across our continent, and African solutions financed by Africans.”
Oshodi added that Nigeria stood firmly with South Africa during the struggle against apartheid and said the long-standing relationship between both countries should not stop Nigeria from speaking out whenever the lives of its citizens are under threat.
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