#Xenophobia: SA Speaks On Nigerian Govt’s Decision To Recall Acting High Commisioner

The relationship between two of Africa’s super powers, Nigeria and South Africa has been stretched by the former’s decision to recall its Acting High Commissioner.

Said SA in strongly-worded statement published through its Department of International Relations and Coorperation(DIRCO):

A government resorts to such an extraordinary diplomatic step to express outrage at actions or behaviour of another government.
We are not sure which actions or behaviour of the South African Government the Nigerian Government is protesting. It is only Nigeria that has taken this unfortunate and regrettable step. If this action is based on the incidents of attacks on foreign nationals in some parts of our country, it would be curious for a sisterly country to want to exploit such a painful episode for whatever agenda.

Those are some pretty strong words right there.

SA also said it was committed to a string relationship with Nigeria citing that it had not blamed the government of the latter following the deaths at TB Joshua’s lodgings or for the late repatriation of the bodies(it took 9 months).

Because of this commitment SA said:

We will raise our concerns through diplomatic channels with the new administration that will assume office in Nigeria next month.

Nigeria has had by far the biggest reaction to the xenophobic violence targeted at foreign African nationals in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng. In the early days of the unrest it threatened to close SA businesses in Nigeria unless the violence stopped.

SA has in the past week stepped up its efforts to clamp down on the violence with the deployment of soldiers in volatile areas.

Countries like Zimbabwe have repatriated hundreds of their nationals back home.