Nigeria has summoned South Africa's acting high commissioner over recent attacks on foreigners in the southern African nation.
Nigeria will formally express its “serious concern” over the events in South Africa at a meeting on Monday, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry, saying they could affect existing relations between the countries.
The meeting will focus on recent marches organized by anti-immigrant groups and “documented examples of ill-treatment of Nigerian citizens and attacks on their businesses”.
At least two Nigerians and four Ethiopians have been killed in recent weeks, while civilians from other African countries have been attacked, local media reported.
As Africa's most industrialized country, people from other parts of the continent have long traveled to South Africa in search of work.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the attacks but cautioned foreigners to respect local laws.
He used his Independence Day address last week – which marked the country's first democratic elections in 1994 – to remind South Africans of the support given by other African countries in the struggle against the racist system of apartheid.
But some South Africans accuse foreigners of staying in the country illegally, taking jobs from locals and having ties to crime, especially drug trafficking.
Anti-immigrant groups are stopping people outside hospitals and schools and demanding to see their ID cards.
During a march by one such group in the capital Pretoria last week, foreign-owned businesses were urged to close in the event of violence.
At the time, a Nigerian man told BBC Pidgin: “It's not OK because we're black, we're brothers… everyone comes here just to survive.”
One security guard, who was unable to report to work because of the protests, told the BBC: “This is not what we expected as fellow Africans.”
“It is just scaring us – imagine if we are scared in our own African continent – what if we go to Europe?” he asked.
Last month, Ghana summoned South Africa's top envoy after a video was widely shared showing a Ghanaian man being challenged to prove he had the correct immigration papers.
Anti-immigrant sentiment escalated earlier this year after reports emerged that the head of the Nigerian community in the port city of Kugompo (formerly East London) had been installed in a traditional role that can be translated as “king”. Some South Africans in the local area saw this as an attempt to seize political power.
According to official figures, South Africa is home to about 2.4 million migrants, which is just less than 4% of the total population. However, many more are believed to be in the country unofficially.
Most come from neighboring countries such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, which have a history of providing migrant labor to their wealthier neighbors. A small number come from Nigeria.
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