Politics
Nigeria’s National Assembly Suspends Official Visits to South Africa Over Xenophobia Concerns
NIGERIA — Nigeria’s National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and resolved to boycott South African-hosted legislative activ...
By Wavers Multimedia
The decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, with lawmakers agreeing to temporarily halt official legislative engagements involving South Africa.
Under the decision, members of the National Assembly, legislative committees, officials and staff are to suspend participation in South African hosted programmes and activities.
The suspension covers conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings and other legislative engagements organised or hosted by South African institutions. It also extends to both physical and virtual participation in such programmes.
The National Assembly said the measure was prompted by reports of Nigerians and other African nationals being killed, injured and displaced amid incidents of xenophobic violence in South Africa.
Lawmakers also raised concerns over reports that some Nigerians had been forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other property as a result of attacks and insecurity.
The decision represents a significant diplomatic signal from Nigeria’s federal legislature as concerns over the treatment and safety of Nigerians in South Africa continue to attract attention.
However, the National Assembly stressed that the suspension was not intended to undermine the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and South Africa or the people-to-people ties between both countries.
Instead, lawmakers called on the South African authorities to take stronger steps to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals living in the country.
The National Assembly urged the relevant authorities in South Africa to thoroughly investigate reported attacks, identify and arrest suspects, and ensure that anyone found responsible is prosecuted.
Lawmakers also called for greater protection of Nigerian citizens, businesses and investments in South Africa, stressing the need for authorities to prevent further incidents.
The measure also extends a call to Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly, which were urged to consider adopting similar restrictions on official legislative engagements with South Africa.
The suspension will remain in force until further notice. The National Assembly indicated that the position could be reviewed depending on developments surrounding the safety of Nigerians and the response of South African authorities.
The decision comes against the backdrop of longstanding concerns about xenophobia in South Africa, where Nigerians and other African nationals have previously faced attacks and hostility.
For Nigeria’s lawmakers, the temporary suspension is intended to draw attention to the concerns of Nigerians in South Africa while maintaining the broader diplomatic relationship between the two countries.