PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (AP) — Nigeria’s president on Thursday called “unacceptable” the recent deadly attacks on foreigners in South Africa that angered many African countries and led to an extraordinary airlift of Nigerians, while South Africa’s leader said “early warning mechanisms” will be put in place to avoid further violence.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was a meeting of Africa’s two largest economies, with more than $3.3 billion in trade between them in 2018. The unrest saw businesses targeted in both countries.
South Africa has been making efforts to mend ties with Nigeria and others after its government faced criticism for not explicitly speaking out against xenophobia at first but instead framing the violence as crime. Ramaphosa on Thursday again stressed the need for immigrants to obey local laws but called the xenophobia “regrettable.”
More than 12 people were killed and more than 700 arrested after bands of South Africans in Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria, launched attacks against foreign-owned shops and stalls, looting and burning the small businesses and attacking some shopkeepers.
Nigeria’s foreign minister called the attacks “sickening” and the government recalled its high commissioner to South Africa. South Africa temporarily closed its diplomatic missions in Nigeria, citing concerns over staff safety. In Nigeria’s megacity Lagos, operations of South African telecommunications giant MTN were targeted in retaliatory attacks.
South Africa’s president now says his government is “totally committed” against attacks on foreign nationals. He acknowledges frustration about the country’s high unemployment and sluggish economy but has told countrymen not to take it out on foreigners.
It was not immediately clear how the “early warning mechanisms” to avoid further unrest would work between South Africa and Nigeria. Buhari said police and intelligence forces in both countries should be alert to avoid further violence.
Outbreaks of violence against Nigerians and citizens of other African nations have regularly erupted in South Africa in recent years, with some South Africans accusing foreigners of peddling illegal drugs or taking jobs. The attacks on Nigerians have led to growing sentiments against South African companies doing business in Nigeria, with many people calling for their closure.
“Relations between our two countries are very strong and we want to welcome more businesses from Nigeria to come here,” Ramaphosa said.
The periodic violence against foreigners in South Africa is in sharp contrast to the hospitality that other African nations showed to black South Africans during their long fight against the harsh system of white minority rule known as apartheid, which ended in 1994.
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