Xenophobia: Nigeria suspends official travel to SA

Nigeria's National Assembly said on Friday it is banning all official visits to South Africa, in response to continued violence against immigrants in the country.

“All official visits to the Republic of South Africa by the National Assembly, its Committees, lawmakers, officials and staff are hereby suspended,” said Akin Rotimi, spokesman for Nigeria's House of Representatives, in a statement.

He said the National Assembly could not ignore persistent attacks on citizens abroad, citing reports of Nigerians killed, injured, displaced or forced to abandon their businesses. The suspension also extends to virtual and online engagements.

The move follows months of anti-illegal-immigration protests in South Africa, including demonstrations by groups such as Operation Dudula, which have targeted undocumented foreign nationals and, in some cases, spilled over into broader hostility towards African migrants.

The directive was formally communicated to senators, House members, committees and National Assembly staff by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen. It bars participation in South African-hosted or South African-organised legislative activities, including conferences, seminars, workshops and parliamentary exchanges, until further notice.

According to the statement, the National Assembly said it remained particularly concerned that such incidents had continued despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders urging South African authorities to take decisive steps to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals, and to bring perpetrators of xenophobic violence to justice.

The lawmakers stressed that the decision was not intended to undermine Nigeria's longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people ties with South Africa, describing it instead as a strong expression of concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and doing legitimate business in the country. The National Assembly also acknowledged efforts by Nigeria's federal government to assist affected citizens and facilitate the return of Nigerian nationals from South Africa.

The suspension will remain in place until further notice and may be reviewed by the National Assembly's leadership depending on how the situation develops.

SOURCES: eNCA and AFP.