South Africa Faces Diplomatic Embarrassment as President Tinubu Rejects Envoy Amid Xenophobic Violence
The Federal Government has strongly condemned the recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, urging the South African government to take urgent and concrete measures to end the violence and ensure the safety of foreign nationals.
The development comes as President Bola Tinubu declined to personally receive a special envoy from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, opting instead to delegate the meeting to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
The South African delegation, led by the country’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, was received in Abuja on Monday, where both countries held discussions aimed at addressing the latest wave of attacks and easing the growing diplomatic tension between them.
According to multiple Presidency sources, the delegation arrived in Abuja on Friday with a message from President Ramaphosa, but Tinubu declined a direct meeting, directing the envoy to engage with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who would subsequently brief him on the outcome of the talks.
One Presidency source said there was no prior arrangement for the meeting with the President.
“They actually came here on Friday wanting to see the President. But there was no prior notice. We said we couldn’t just allow them to see the President without first asking if he was available. When Monday came, the President directed that they should meet the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Enikanolaiye, who would brief him afterwards.”
Another Presidency source disclosed that Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who is currently attending engagements in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, advised that it was not the appropriate time for the President to receive the delegation while attacks against Nigerians and their businesses were still ongoing.
Speaking during the meeting, Enikanolaiye said President Tinubu mandated the engagement to explore practical ways of ending the attacks, stressing that the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and South Africa should not be undermined by violence against African migrants.
The minister recalled Nigeria’s historic support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle and noted that both countries had remained strategic partners through the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had actually asked us to meet with you and exchange views and perspectives on how to address and resolve the ongoing Afrophobic attacks in South Africa, of which Nigerians and other citizens of Africa have been victims,” he said.
Enikanolaiye lamented what he described as a disturbing pattern of xenophobic attacks stretching back more than three decades.
According to him, incidents were recorded in 1995, 1998, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and now 2026, adding that from 2022 alone, no fewer than 98 Nigerians had lost their lives in mob attacks and hate-related violence.
While insisting that Nigeria would never shield criminals, the minister stressed that anyone accused of wrongdoing must be prosecuted in accordance with the law rather than subjected to mob justice.
“The Nigerian government will not support drug peddlers, but anyone accused of an offence should be treated in accordance with your constitution, international human rights instruments and the minimum requirements of humanity.”
He also expressed concern that many law-abiding Nigerians residing legally in South Africa had become victims of attacks, alleging that security agencies sometimes failed to intervene despite the violence.
Enikanolaiye recalled the humanitarian impact of previous attacks, revealing that Nigeria had evacuated nearly 1,500 citizens from South Africa in the past.
Responding on behalf of President Ramaphosa, Lamola reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to combating xenophobia, racism and all forms of discrimination.
“We have been outspoken against any intolerance, including xenophobia, racism, homophobia, violence and discrimination directed at individuals within our borders.”
He, however, maintained that South Africa would continue to enforce its immigration laws and deal decisively with undocumented migrants and criminal activities within its territory.
Lamola described migration as a continental challenge requiring cooperation among African nations and expressed confidence that sustained dialogue between Abuja and Pretoria would help restore confidence in the relationship between both countries.
Relations between Nigeria and South Africa have deteriorated in recent weeks following renewed attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals.
The diplomatic tension has prompted the House of Representatives to recommend the suspension of business permits for South African companies operating in Nigeria, while the Senate has dispatched a delegation to Pretoria to formally register Nigeria’s displeasure over the attacks.