Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu refused to receive South African envoys sent by President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the wave of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans, according to diplomatic sources. The South African delegation, led by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, arrived on Friday, July 24, but was kept waiting over the weekend. On Monday, they were directed to meet only with Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who will brief the president later. The substantive minister, Ambassador Bianca Odimegwu-Ojukwu, was abroad for a meeting in Addis Ababa. Nigeria cited a lack of prior notice as the reason for the snub.
Xenophobic Violence Escalates in South Africa
In recent months, a fresh wave of anti-immigrant protests and violence swept through major South African cities. Mobs armed with dangerous weapons went door-to-door, attacking foreign-owned businesses and homes, and preventing foreigners from accessing hospitals. They issued a deadline of June 30 for all foreign-owned shops to close and for foreigners to leave. The violence forced thousands to flee: over 38,000 Malawians were hounded out, Zimbabweans crossed the border, and Ghana and Nigeria evacuated their citizens. Hundreds of Nigerians, including women and children, sought refuge at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.
Casualties and Official Response
The killings have mounted. On April 20, Nigerian Amaramiro Emmanuel was beaten to death by South African National Defence Force officers. Andrew Ekpenyong and Emeka Charles Iroegbu were killed by police in Pretoria. Musa Joe (Big Joe) was gunned down in front of his shop in Mpumalanga. On July 23, Charles Simon Ibeh was killed in Bellville, Cape Town. Other victims include Taiwo Raji, Silas Ani, and Yemi Akinwunmi. Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission, reported that about 116 Nigerians were killed in South Africa in the last two years alone. Minister of State Enikanolaiye put the figure at 98 between 2002 and 2026. The South African government's response, led by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, was to tell undocumented immigrants to leave or face deportation, emboldening anti-migrant activists and vigilante groups like Operation Dudula.
Nigeria's Diplomatic Stance
Nigeria's refusal to meet the envoys at the highest level is seen as a calculated diplomatic rebuke. Enikanolaiye expressed that recurring attacks on Nigerians in South Africa have followed a disturbing pattern for over two decades, and that Nigerians who supported South Africa's liberation from apartheid have been treated unfairly. He stated, "What we have found is that this xenophobic act has gone beyond the attack on criminals. We have records of Nigerians who have a legitimate purpose to remain in South Africa, yet they have been attacked." The decision to send the envoys to a lower-level meeting is a subtle way of expressing displeasure, signaling that President Tinubu stands up for his countrymen.
Regional and International Reactions
Ghana has taken even stronger steps, evacuating about 1,000 citizens, summoning South Africa's High Commissioner, and turning down a proposed state visit by President Ramaphosa after the killing of Ghanaian citizen Bashiru Isak. Ghana also reported South Africa to the African Union. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued a communique denouncing the "unAfrican behaviour" of South Africans. Calls have been made to refer the matter to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, and two Ghanaian civilians have already filed protests with the ICC.
Underlying Causes and the Way Forward
The violence stems from post-apartheid economic inequalities, where the economy remains in the hands of a minority. South African authorities have been accused of complicity, with minimal prosecutions of vigilantes. The African Union's protocol on free movement of persons has only been ratified by four of 55 member states since 2019. Observers note that xenophobia is a symptom of Africa's failure to integrate its peoples. South Africa is now seeking diplomatic engagement ahead of the AU Extraordinary Summit on Conflict Prevention in Angola from August 29-30, 2026. Analysts stress that the teaching of history must be made compulsory in South African schools to cure the collective amnesia about the sacrifices other Africans made for the country's liberation.
