Tinubu Snubs South African Envoy Over Xenophobic Attacks

President Bola Tinubu on Monday declined to meet a special delegation from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over the ongoing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, directing the envoys to hold discussions instead with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.

Rather than receive the delegation personally, Tinubu instructed Enikanolaiye to engage with the visitors and brief him afterward. Officials said the President’s decision reflected the sensitivity of the ongoing crisis, which has forced the evacuation of hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa.

During the meeting, Enikanolaiye condemned the recurring attacks, describing them as “Afrophobia.” He said nearly 100 Nigerians had been killed in hate-related incidents since 2022 and insisted suspected criminals should face due process instead of mob violence. He also questioned the response of South African security authorities to the attacks.

In response, Lamola said President Ramaphosa remained opposed to xenophobia and had sent him to deliver a message aimed at easing tensions. However, he maintained that South Africa would continue enforcing its immigration laws while seeking closer cooperation with Nigeria to address migration challenges across the continent.

Relations between both countries have worsened since fresh xenophobic violence erupted in April, prompting Nigeria to evacuate its citizens and consider further diplomatic measures.