Nigeria has warned that it will not accept attacks on its citizens in South Africa, as anti-migrant riots erupted across the country on Tuesday.
The rallies, organised by anti-migration vigilante groups such as March and March, came after an unofficial deadline of June 30 for undocumented foreigners to depart South Africa. Although the organisers stated that the demonstrations were directed at undocumented migrants and would be peaceful, several lawful migrants have claimed harassment.
Responding to the situation, Ademola Oshodi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs, stated that Nigeria has already given a strong warning to South African authorities about the safety of its citizens.
“The warning is straightforward: Nigeria wants action. Investigate every reported incident, safeguard Nigerian communities, restrict vigilante groups, pursue misconduct, and activate the Nigeria-South Africa Early Warning Mechanism immediately,” Oshodi stated.
According to him, “South Africa has every right to enforce its immigration laws.” However, that burden falls on the state, through authorised institutions, rather than on mobs, vigilante groups, or political organisations targeting foreign nationals. “No African should be attacked, threatened, denied healthcare, forced out of business, or humiliated because of their origins.”
Oshodi also stated that Nigeria’s lengthy support for South Africa throughout the anti-apartheid movement meant that both countries should maintain mutual respect and safeguard each other’s nationals.