Nigeria orders more evacuation flights from South Africa amid migrant unrest
Nigeria says conditions for African migrants in South Africa are worsening after two Nigerian men died during a wave of anti-immigrant unrest.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Nigeria is arranging additional evacuation flights from South Africa as anti-immigrant unrest continues and two Nigerian citizens have died in contested circumstances. Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Monday that Abuja sees no improvement in conditions for African migrants, according to AFP and Reuters.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu called on South African authorities to investigate the deaths of Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, which Nigeria’s foreign ministry linked to the current attacks and protests targeting migrants. South African police said Joe’s death did not appear connected to the demonstrations, while they were not immediately able to comment on Iroegbu’s case, AFP and Reuters reported.
Nigeria’s foreign ministry said Joe was killed June 28 outside his shop in eMalahleni, in northeastern South Africa, by unidentified criminals. The ministry said Iroegbu died the same day in Pretoria while being questioned by South African police.
In a statement Sunday, Nigeria’s foreign ministry warned South Africa that Abuja could consider further steps if attacks and hostility toward foreigners continue. The ministry said South Africa needed to address what it described as a trend of intolerance against migrants.
South African foreign ministry spokesman Chrispin Phiri said Pretoria had asked Nigeria’s High Commission to provide any usable information to law enforcement agencies. Phiri said such information would allow investigators to conduct a proper and impartial inquiry under the rule of law.
Regional governments move citizens out
AFP and Reuters reported that South Africa has seen weeks of demonstrations against undocumented migrants. Many South Africans accuse workers from other African countries of taking jobs and increasing pressure on public services, according to the agencies.
South Africa’s government has faced criticism over its response to violence against foreign nationals, AFP and Reuters reported. The unrest has killed several foreigners and included attacks on immigrant-owned shops, including looting and arson, according to the agencies.
Mozambique said five of its citizens were killed in xenophobic attacks in late May. South Africa said the number of Mozambican deaths was two.
Ghana and South Africa also clashed diplomatically last week after a Ghanaian citizen, Bashiru Isak, was killed. South Africa’s government said Isak’s death was not connected to anti-immigrant protests.
Hundreds of Nigerians have already left South Africa, AFP and Reuters reported, among tens of thousands of foreign nationals who have departed. The agencies said South Africa had long drawn documented and undocumented migrants from across Africa because of its comparatively strong economy.
Uganda’s High Commission in Pretoria said Monday that a fourth group of Ugandan nationals was leaving South Africa voluntarily. In a post on X, the mission said the group had completed boarding in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, for a flight to Entebbe as part of Uganda’s repatriation effort.
AFP and Reuters reported that South Africa has long struggled with high levels of violent crime, a problem that predates the latest outbreak of xenophobic violence.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.