Nigeria and Ghana have both expressed strong concern over renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa, urging authorities to take stronger action to protect foreign nationals.
Nigeria’s government has summoned South Africa’s acting high commissioner in Abuja following reports of attacks on Nigerians living in the country. The meeting, scheduled for Monday, will focus on recent cases of violence, harassment, and reported killings involving Nigerian citizens and their businesses.
The move comes after a Nigerian was killed and two others injured in an attack by unknown armed men in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal region, according to reports.
Ghana has also taken similar diplomatic steps, calling in South Africa’s acting envoy in Accra over incidents affecting its citizens. One reported case involved a Ghanaian resident who was allegedly threatened and told to leave the country, raising further concerns about the safety of foreigners.
South African authorities have condemned the attacks, describing xenophobic violence as unlawful and inconsistent with the country’s constitutional values. Security agencies say they have been instructed to respond firmly to any further incidents of intimidation or attacks on foreign nationals.
South Africa remains home to millions of migrants from across Africa, but economic pressure and high unemployment have continued to fuel periodic tensions targeting foreigners.
