A diplomatic dispute has emerged between Nigeria and South Africa after Abuja announced plans to seek compensation for Nigerians who returned home following recent anti-migrant unrest in South Africa. Nigerian authorities say they are documenting losses suffered by their citizens, including abandoned homes, businesses, and other property, before formally raising the matter with Pretoria.
The Nigerian government said the compensation request would be pursued once it has verified the extent of the losses. Officials argue that many Nigerians fled because of xenophobic violence and intimidation, leaving behind valuable assets and livelihoods. Similar concerns have been raised by other African countries whose citizens were affected by the unrest.
South Africa has rejected the compensation demand. A minister in the Presidency said Pretoria would not compensate foreign nationals who left the country, maintaining that while the government condemns xenophobic violence, it cannot assume blanket financial responsibility for losses resulting from the unrest.
The disagreement comes amid a broader crackdown on undocumented migration in South Africa. Authorities say more than 53,000 foreign nationals have been deported or repatriated this year, with many returning voluntarily after anti-immigrant protests intensified. Most returnees have been from Malawi, although citizens of Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Uganda, and other African countries have also been affected.
The latest dispute adds to the often strained relationship between Africa’s two largest economies. Although Nigeria and South Africa maintain close trade and diplomatic ties, recurring xenophobic attacks and disputes over the treatment of migrants have repeatedly tested bilateral relations over the past two decades.
Leave a comment