The Federal Government has initiated diplomatic engagement with South Africa over recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians, as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, prepares to meet South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, on the issue.
The planned diplomatic engagement, approved by President Bola Tinubu, is expected to focus on addressing recurring attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
Enikanolaiye, who disclosed this on Wednesday, said the engagement became necessary following renewed tensions over incidents of violence targeting Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the Southern African country.
He urged the South African government to take urgent and concrete steps to address what Nigeria described as recurring Afrophobic attacks, warning that the situation threatens decades of strategic partnership between both countries.
The minister recalled Nigeria’s historical support for South Africa’s liberation from apartheid and the role both countries played in transforming the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) into the African Union (AU).
He expressed concern over what he described as a recurring pattern of xenophobic violence dating back to 1995, with similar incidents recorded in 1998, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and 2026.
“This violence undermines the spirit of African unity and must be addressed decisively,” he said.
The planned engagement is expected to strengthen bilateral cooperation and renew commitments towards protecting African nationals living in both countries, as Nigeria seeks accountability and long-term solutions to the recurring attacks.