Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, is holding talks with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, over renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians in the Southern African country.
Lamola is attending the meeting as a special envoy of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Speaking during the talks, Enikanolaiye said President Bola Tinubu had directed that the issue of repeated attacks on Nigerians in South Africa be addressed frankly and decisively.
He urged the South African authorities to take immediate and practical steps to end what Nigeria described as recurring Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals.
The minister warned that the continued violence could undermine the long-standing diplomatic and economic relationship between Africa’s two largest economies.
Enikanolaiye also recalled Nigeria’s support for South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle and highlighted the enduring partnership between both countries, including their collaboration in the transition from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU), as well as efforts to advance the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
He further expressed concern over the recurring incidents of xenophobic violence, noting that attacks have been recorded since 1995, with subsequent outbreaks in 1998, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and 2026.
