President Bola Tinubu has declined to personally receive a special envoy from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over the renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
The delegation, led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday with a message from President Ramaphosa and sought an audience with President Tinubu.
Multiple Presidency sources said the President directed that the envoy should instead meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, who will brief him on the outcome.
One source was quoted as saying: “They actually came here on Friday wanting to see the President. But there was no prior notice… When Monday came, the President directed that they should meet the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.”
The development comes amid heightened diplomatic tension following weeks of anti-migrant protests and attacks in South Africa.
Receiving the delegation in Abuja on Monday, Amb. Enikanolaiye strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as persistent “Afrophobic attacks” and warning that they were straining the long-standing strategic relationship between both countries.
He said President Tinubu ordered the meeting to demand urgent and concrete steps from Pretoria to end the violence and raised questions of complicity where police appeared unwilling to intervene to protect foreign nationals.
Nigerian officials said at least four migrants have been killed in the latest unrest, while at least 1,490 Nigerians have been evacuated in seven batches since the outbreak. The Ministry also cited that at least 98 Nigerians have been killed in xenophobic attacks since 2022.
The Federal Government is demanding a thorough investigation, prosecution of perpetrators, written assurances on the safety of Nigerians, and compensation for victims.
