President Bola Tinubu on Monday declined a direct audience with a special delegation from South Africa, dispatched by President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the escalating xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians. Instead, President Tinubu instructed the visiting team to engage with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, signaling Nigeria’s firm stance amidst the ongoing diplomatic tensions.
The South African delegation, led by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, had arrived in Abuja on Friday, July 24, 2026, seeking a direct meeting with President Tinubu. Multiple credible sources within the Nigerian Presidency confirmed that the initial request lacked prior notice, leading to the President’s decision to redirect the engagement to a lower diplomatic level.
Nigeria’s Unwavering Position on ‘Afrophobia’
Sources further revealed that Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who was on official duty in Addis Ababa, had advised against a direct presidential reception while the violent attacks on Nigerian nationals and their businesses in South Africa continued unabated. This strategic move underscores Nigeria’s profound dissatisfaction with the situation.
Receiving the South African delegation, Ambassador Enikanolaiye conveyed President Tinubu’s directive for a thorough engagement on resolving the crisis. He emphasized that the historical bonds between Nigeria and South Africa, forged during the anti-apartheid struggle, should not be undermined by persistent violence against African migrants, particularly Nigerians.
“It is with profound pleasure that I welcome our brothers from South Africa. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had actually asked us to meet with you and exchange views and perspectives on how to address and resolve the ongoing Afrophobic attacks in South Africa, of which Nigerians, and other citizens of Africa, have been victims,” Enikanolaiye stated.
The Minister lamented the decades-long pattern of these attacks, citing occurrences in 1995, 1998, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and the recent resurgence in 2026. He revealed a grim statistic: 98 Nigerians have died in mob actions and hate-related incidents, termed “Afrophobia,” since 2022 alone. Enikanolaiye reiterated that while Nigeria does not condone criminality, individuals accused of offenses must be subjected to due process, not mob justice, raising serious questions about state responsibility and potential complicity.
“The humanitarian impact of these attacks has been devastating,” the Minister added, recalling the emotional experience of evacuating nearly 1,500 Nigerians who returned home with nothing, their properties looted and destroyed.
South Africa Reaffirms Opposition Amidst Immigration Stance
In response, Minister Ronald Lamola conveyed President Ramaphosa’s message, reaffirming South Africa’s unequivocal opposition to xenophobia, racism, homophobia, and all forms of intolerance. “We have been outspoken against any intolerance, including xenophobia, racism, homophobia, violence, discrimination directed at individuals within our borders,” Lamola asserted.
However, Lamola also maintained South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and address criminal activities within its borders. He acknowledged that migration presents a continental challenge requiring collaborative solutions from all African nations, including Nigeria and South Africa.
Escalating Tensions and Future Diplomacy
Relations between the two African powerhouses have been strained since a new wave of xenophobic violence erupted in April 2026 across several South African provinces. In response, President Tinubu had approved five Air Peace evacuation flights, facilitating the repatriation of over 1,000 Nigerians. Nigeria has also warned of potential retaliatory diplomatic measures, with the House of Representatives recommending the suspension of business permits for South African companies operating in Nigeria, and the Senate dispatching a delegation to Pretoria.
The visit by Ramaphosa’s special envoy was understood as an attempt to de-escalate tensions through direct diplomatic engagement ahead of the African Union Extraordinary Summit on conflict prevention and resolution, scheduled for August 29-30, 2026, in Angola. While the direct presidential meeting did not materialize, the engagement with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs is expected to form a crucial part of ongoing bilateral efforts to address the crisis and strengthen dialogue.