In addition to similar concerns raised by the government of Nigeria, Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudjato Ablakwa has spoken about “xenophobic incidents” targeting Ghanaians in South Africa.
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- The Government of Nigeria has summoned the Acting High Commissioner to South Africa in Abuja to address documented cases of ill-treatment of Nigerian citizens.
- Nigeria's move follows a similar summons by Ghana last week, highlighting growing anger across Africa over repeated anti-migrant violence in South Africa.
- South Africa's acting police minister condemned the attacks as illegal and unconstitutional and warned that xenophobia, looting and intimidation would not be tolerated.
The Nigerian government has summoned South Africa's top diplomat in Abuja over attacks on foreigners in the country, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
South Africa, the continent's most industrialized economy, has long been a destination for African workers, both legal and undocumented.
But with an unemployment rate of more than 30%, it has seen repeated xenophobic and anti-immigrant protests – including renewed violence in recent weeks.
South Africa's acting high commissioner to Abuja is scheduled to meet with Nigerian officials on Monday to discuss “documented instances of ill-treatment of Nigerian citizens and attacks on their businesses,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Kimibi Imomotimi Abianfa said.
The summons comes a week after Ghana's Foreign Ministry summoned South Africa's Acting High Commissioner to Accra over several “xenophobic incidents” against Ghanaians.
Read | Police Minister Kachaliya says, 'Xenophobia has no place in our constitutional democracy.'
Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Abalakwa spoke about an incident in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa in which a Ghanaian citizen, “a lawful resident, was confronted… (and) instructed to leave South Africa and 'fix his country'”.
The statement also warned of “escalating tensions as foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, are advised to remain indoors for their safety”.
According to the statistics agency, there are more than 3 million foreigners living in South Africa, or 5.1% of the population.
More than 63% come from countries in the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc.
South Africa's acting police minister last week condemned anti-immigrant violence, saying attacks on foreign nationals were “unlawful” and violate the country's constitutional values of dignity and equality.
“Acts of xenophobia, violence, looting or intimidation will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” Firoz Kachaliya said in a statement.
“Police have been directed to act decisively and without hesitation to deal with these incidents,” he said.