South Africa's gov't has failed to condemn xenophobic attacks — Nigerian Foreign Minister

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has criticised the South African government over what she describes as its failure to effectively address rising xenophobic tensions in the country.

The comments come amid renewed reports of attacks on foreign-owned businesses linked to protests against illegal immigration, a situation that has triggered concern across several African countries.

Some nations, including Ghana, have already begun evacuating their citizens as conditions deteriorate.

Speaking to the media on Monday, June 8, the Minister said the South African authorities had not taken decisive action to curb the violence, despite repeated incidents affecting foreign nationals.

She also expressed disappointment, referencing Nigeria’s historical support for South Africa during the apartheid struggle.

"The South African government has not come out strongly, firmly enough to condemn these incidents. So, our citizens are imperiled, they are in distress," she said.

The Minister further argued that Nigerians affected by the violence are legitimate residents and business owners, insisting they should not be labelled as illegal migrants.

"To say that Nigerians who are in South Africa doing legitimate business are illegal migrants is absolutely untrue," she added.

She explained that evacuation efforts are currently ongoing in collaboration with Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other government institutions, with affected citizens being processed for repatriation and support upon return.

The Minister also indicated that a crisis response unit has been activated within Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in South Africa to coordinate assistance for citizens in distress.