Nigeria's parliament halts official trips to South Africa amid anti-immigrant unrest
Nigeria's National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa, including virtual engagements, in protest against persistent violence targeting immigrants. The decision follows months of anti-foreigner protests that have forced tens of thousands to flee the country. Nigerian lawmakers cited attacks on citizens, including killings and displacement, as the reason for the ban.
The suspension, announced by spokesman Akin Rotimi, applies to lawmakers, committees, officials, and staff, and notably extends to online meetings. This action follows a period of unrest where protesters set a June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to depart, leading to clashes, including an attack on a Congolese encampment in Durban.
Nigerian officials have documented severe casualties, with Foreign Minister Sola Enikanolaiye reporting at least 98 Nigerian deaths from mob attacks and extrajudicial killings since 2022. Furthermore, while South African authorities count nearly 90,000 repatriations or deportations, home governments of migrants place the total closer to 178,000, highlighting a significant discrepancy in tracking the exodus.
This diplomatic rupture could further strain bilateral economic and political ties between Africa's two largest economies. Nigerian citizens residing in South Africa may feel more vulnerable, as the suspension signals a lack of diplomatic recourse, potentially emboldening local hostility. Conversely, South African businesses reliant on Nigerian investment or trade could face indirect economic consequences. The discrepancy in migration data may also fuel nationalist narratives on both sides, complicating future regional cooperation on migration management.