Why are Nigeria-South Africa tensions rising amid xenophobic attacks?
It’s not the first time the two African giants have gone head-to-head over attacks on their nationals. Nigeria has threatened retaliatory measures against South Africa
It’s not the first time the two African giants have gone head-to-head over attacks on their nationals. Nigeria has threatened retaliatory measures against South Africa after Abuja began repatriating hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa this week amid alleged xenophobic attacks by South African protesters. Diplomatic tensions between the two countries have spiked since the latest wave of violent anti-immigration protests by thousands of South Africans calling for strict, mass deportation measures. South Africa has long attracted migrants from across the continent, entering the country both legally and illegally. Statistics South Africa put the number of foreign nationals at 2.4 million in 2022, about 3.7 percent of the total population of 65 million. However, many South Africans claim that high numbers of undocumented migrants contribute to unemployment and place pressure on public services. There have been three waves of anti-immigration protests since 2008, all turning violent and resulting in casualties and the looting of shops and other property. Much of the anger has targeted, in particular, nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi, as well as Nigeria and Ghana. Here’s what we know about the tensions and Nigeria’s plans to take retaliatory steps Why is Nigeria’s government angry? On Monday, Nigerian Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu accused South Africa’s government of failing to forcefully denounce violence against Nigerian nationals in South Africa. She said this had damaged the bond the two countries have enjoyed since the solidarity Nigeria showed during South Africa’s fight against apartheid. At least two Nigerian men died in April during the latest wave of violence. One of the men, Amaramiro Emmanuel, was killed after being beaten by officers from the South African Defence Force (SANDF) on April 20, according to a statement by the Nigerian consul-general, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche. The other, Ekpenyong Andrew, was arrested in Pretoria before being found dead at a mortuary. Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigerians are being “harassed” in South Africa despite having legal status, countering claims by South African citizen groups that attacks have targeted only undocumented residents. Legitimate businesses are being “looted” while children are forced to stay away from school, she said.
“The police refused to do anything,” the minister added. “Nigeria is not happy because Nigeria has sacrificed much for the South African independence struggle,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu told journalists on Monday. “My own generation, we carried placards, we demonstrated in front of South African assets, sometimes we even got arrested.” At least 1,000 Nigerians were initially scheduled for repatriation this week, but Abuja says the number of people wishing to return home is rising. What has the South African government said? In a national address on Sunday evening, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced new measures to tackle irregular migration amid the rising anger. Ramaphosa said employers who hire undocumented workers, who often work for lower wages, will now be subject to imprisonment, rather than just fines. He added that dedicated courts would be established to help speed up deportations of those in the country illegally. A new register holding the biometric data of “every person in the country” would also be established to combat identity theft. “Many South Africans are asking difficult but legitimate questions,” Ramaphosa said in his address. “Yet we must recognise that illegal immigration is not the cause of all our economic challenges … Our country, like many others throughout history, is a product of migration. It is the reason for our diversity and contributes to our vibrancy.” Ramaphosa warned South Africans against taking action on their own, saying the responsibility for enforcing immigration laws “rests with the state and the state alone”. A South African High Court, in November 2025, blocked Operation Dudula from blocking migrants’ access to healthcare facilities. How has the Nigerian government responded? Nigeria is repatriating citizens from South Africa. Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu said retaliatory measures against South Africa were being “considered” in response to the attacks on Nigerians. “This is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government, but it is not off the table,” she said, without elaborating. In the past, angry mobs have responded to attacks on Nigerians by targeting South African businesses in Nigeria. Some Nigerians have also called for South African businesses to be shut or nationalised.
The BriefWire