South Africa Faces Anti-Migrant Protests as Nigeria Arranges Voluntary Repatriation for Citizens

Nigeria is preparing voluntary repatriation flights for its nationals in South Africa amid a wave of anti-migrant protests that have turned violent in recent weeks. Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated that 130 applicants have already registered for the exercise, with expectations of more to follow.

She added that arrangements are under way to collate details of Nigerians seeking assistance to return home.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed concern about attacks on foreigners in South Africa, according to Odumegwu-Ojukwu. She condemned the violence against foreign nationals and demonstrations characterized by xenophobic rhetoric, hate speeches, and incendiary anti-migrant statements. Nigeria has summoned South Africa's acting High Commissioner over the attacks.

Nigeria will formally convey its profound concern at a meeting on Monday over incidents in South Africa, including recent marches by anti-immigrant groups and documented instances of mistreatment of Nigerian citizens and attacks on their businesses, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigerian lives and businesses in South Africa must not continue to be put at risk, and Nigeria remains committed to working with South Africa to end this. Two Nigerians were killed in separate incidents involving local security personnel in South Africa, and Nigeria is demanding justice for these killings, she stated.

Four Ethiopian nationals have been killed in South Africa in recent weeks, local media reported. Peter Odike, a Nigerian naturalized in 2006, told BBC News that business is totally down and most immigrants are shutting down because it is not safe to stay in South Africa. A 'March and March' demonstration in Johannesburg in April called for all illegal foreign immigrants to leave South Africa.

Anti-immigrant groups have been stopping people outside hospitals and schools in South Africa demanding to see their identity papers. During a march by an anti-immigrant group in Pretoria last week, foreign-owned businesses were urged to close in case of violence.

Ghana summoned South Africa's top envoy last month after a video was widely shared showing a Ghanaian man being challenged to prove he had the correct immigration papers.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the attacks on foreigners in South Africa. He also cautioned foreigners to respect local laws in South Africa. Ramaphosa used his Freedom Day address last week to remind South Africans of the support other African nations had given in the struggle against apartheid, with Freedom Day marking South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994.

4 million migrants, just less than 4% of the population, according to official figures.