Tinubu and Ramaphosa: Nigeria's Response to Xenophobia

Recently, there have been serious concerns about the killings of Nigerians in South Africa. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sent Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, and his team to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They arrived on Friday, July 24, but President Tinubu did not meet them. The envoys waited through the weekend. On Monday, they were told to meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who would inform the President later. The main Minister, Ambassador Bianca Odimegwu-Ojukwu, was away for a meeting in Addis Ababa. The Nigerian side explained that there was no prior notice given to the President. During their meeting with Enikanolaiye, he expressed concern about the ongoing attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, saying these incidents have been happening for over twenty years. He noted that Nigerians who helped South Africa during the apartheid struggle have faced unfair treatment. "What we have found is that this xenophobic act has gone beyond the attack on criminals. We have records of Nigerians who have a legitimate purpose to remain in South Africa, yet they have been attacked," he said.

Nigeria is trying to handle this situation diplomatically without being aggressive. However, diplomatic gestures can often hide deeper issues. The presidency operates like a club of sovereign nations that respect each other. When there are problems, like the continuous killing and harassment of Nigerians in South Africa, it creates tension. When President Tinubu does not meet the envoys from President Ramaphosa, and the Foreign Ministry claims there was no prior notice, it shows Nigeria's discontent. This could be seen as a subtle way to reject the envoys, perhaps because they are considered too junior. It sends a message to South Africa about the seriousness of the situation. President Tinubu is standing up for Nigerians. He is saying he is a busy President who cannot meet envoys "without prior notice". It is hard to believe this is the whole truth, but as Nigerians, we prefer to think this is a valid reason. Thank you, Mr. President, for this moment of diplomacy. Nigerian lives matter both at home and abroad. Citizen diplomacy must be a key part of Nigeria's international relations, focusing on Demography, Development, Diaspora, and Democracy (the 4Ds).

The treatment of Nigerians in South Africa has been unjust, with many facing violence whether they are legal or illegal immigrants. Black South Africans, especially the younger generation born after apartheid, seem to forget the sacrifices made by other Africans for their liberation. This new generation does not understand their history. Nelson Mandela welcomed all Africans, but now the situation has changed. Recently, a wave of anti-immigrant protests swept through South African cities. The locals went from door to door, attacking businesses and homes owned by foreigners and harassing anyone who seemed different. Armed mobs prevented foreigners from accessing hospitals and ordered foreign-owned shops to close by June 30. They also threatened violence against foreigners. Asylum seekers, whose rights are protected by international law, were also targeted. Many foreigners started to flee, and countries began evacuating their citizens. Over 38,000 Malawians were forced to leave. Zimbabweans crossed the border for safety. Ghana and Nigeria brought their citizens back home. Hundreds of Nigerians, including women and children, sought refuge at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria. While violence and racism grew, the South African government seemed to support this lawlessness. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber told undocumented immigrants to leave or face deportation. Other ministers announced that South Africa would enforce immigration laws strictly. This only encouraged anti-migrant activists and vigilante groups like "March and March" and Operation Dudula. Foreigners were told to go back home or risk being killed. They were blamed for unemployment and said to be taking South African women. What started as xenophobia turned into violence, and soon South Africans began to harm and kill foreigners. By the time President Ramaphosa acknowledged that "illegal immigration is not the cause of all our economic challenges...and that vigilantism will not be allowed", it was too late. Blood had already been spilled.

Reports show that three Mozambicans were killed. A Nigerian, Amaramiro Emmanuel, was beaten to death by South African National Defence Force officers on April 20. Andrew Ekpenyong and Emeka Charles Iroegbu were killed by police in Pretoria. Musa Joe, known as Big Joe, was shot in front of his shop in Mpumalanga. On July 23, Charles Simon Ibeh was killed in Bellville, Cape Town. Other Nigerians like Taiwo Raji, Silas Ani, and Yemi Akinwunmi also lost their lives. Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), reported that about 116 Nigerians were killed in South Africa in the last two years. Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, reported 98 deaths between 2002 and 2026. Regardless of the numbers, these are lives, not just statistics. They are our family members. Under international law, South Africa is responsible for protecting them, according to the R2P rule. They failed. Now, they come to Nigeria, seeking help and cooperation on what Minister Lamola calls "a shared responsibility". The mood in Nigeria and Ghana is not to share anything with South Africa, but to remind them of their ungratefulness and cruelty towards fellow Africans. Many Nigerian lawmakers and citizens have called for retaliatory actions against South Africans and their businesses.

Ghana has been more proactive. Like Nigeria, they evacuated about 1,000 citizens and summoned South Africa’s High Commissioner. They also rejected a planned state visit by President Ramaphosa after a Ghanaian citizen, Bashiru Isak, was killed in Pretoria. The South African special envoy was in Ghana last week, but the government turned down his message from President Ramaphosa. Nigeria should do the same and send Ghana’s High Commissioner back! Ghana has even reported South Africa to the African Union. South Africa's actions go against the principles of the African Union and undermine Pan-Africanism. They also hurt efforts like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). South Africa is looking for diplomatic talks ahead of the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Conflict Prevention and Resolution, scheduled for Angola on August 29-30, 2026. After the 69th ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, they issued a statement condemning South Africa's behavior as "unAfrican". In Nigeria and Ghana, many think this issue should go straight to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold South Africa accountable for genocide and crimes against humanity. Two Ghanaians have already filed complaints with the ICC. Lamola is busy defending South Africa and asking for dialogue on migration.

When he returns to South Africa, he should tell President Ramaphosa and all South Africans that Nigerians are very disappointed. Our protest must be recorded because no one knows what might happen tomorrow. South Africans have shown they cannot tell the difference between legal and illegal migrants. All migrants deserve legal protection, and there are rules for handling their situations without violence and killings. The South African government claims it is only targeting undocumented migrants but cannot show evidence of any anti-migrant activists being prosecuted. In fact, their security forces and cabinet ministers have supported the protests with their racism. They need to be held accountable. Foreigners are not the root of their problems.

Black South Africans are suffering in a post-apartheid society that has yet to empower the majority. Although political power has shifted, the economy remains in the hands of a few. The South African government must improve life for its people instead of blaming outsiders. Migrants bring many benefits to South Africa. Nigerians are often accused of dominating small businesses, but South Africans working in these businesses have the chance to learn skills and knowledge from their fellow Africans. Now that foreigners have been chased away, they have no one to blame but themselves. People in Gauteng are beginning to discriminate against those from Limpopo and Kwa-Zulu Natal, telling others to stay in their own provinces. This cycle of hate is not good for a country that needs unity and peace.

African leaders often talk about trade, integration, and cooperation for the AU's Agenda 2063, but these conversations mostly happen at the government level. The people of Africa seem disconnected. Africa has struggled to unite, often pushing itself apart. Xenophobia in South Africa is a symptom of this problem. The AU has a protocol for the Free Movement of Persons, but it has not been enforced. Only four out of 55 AU members have agreed to the protocol since 2019. The long-term goal should be to work towards unity among African states and peoples. Teaching history in South African schools must be made compulsory to address the growing forgetfulness about collective history.