Boycott Over Xenophobia
Nigeria Suspends All Parliamentary Engagements With South Africa Over Xenophobic Violence
Anonymous
Key Points
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The boycott covers not only physical travel but also virtual participation in legislative activities hosted or organised by South Africa, with the directive to be circulated to senators, representatives, committees, departments, officials and staff.
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The National Assembly said Nigerians affected by the violence had been killed, injured and displaced, with some forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other property in South Africa.
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The resolution followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, under Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
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The suspension may be reviewed by the National Assembly leadership depending on subsequent developments in South Africa.
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The legislative action forms part of a broader Nigerian government response that includes condemning the violence, arranging the evacuation of Nigerians and engaging South African officials over the safety of Nigerian citizens.
Nigeria's National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and ordered lawmakers to boycott South African-hosted legislative activities, citing escalating xenophobic violence against Nigerian and other African migrants. MarketScreener reports the decision covers physical travel and virtual participation in South African legislative events and applies to senators, representatives, committees and staff members.
Nigerian authorities say 98 Nigerians have been killed in mob and hate-related attacks in South Africa since 2022. About 1,490 Nigerians have been repatriated due to recent unrest. The Assembly demanded that South Africa protect foreign nationals, investigate attacks, arrest suspects and prosecute perpetrators Yahoo
Boycott Extends to Virtual Legislative Meetings
The suspension is comprehensive. MarketScreener states it blocks not only in-person visits but also virtual participation in any South African-organized or South African-hosted legislative activities. The directive applies to all National Assembly members, committees, departments, officials and staff members without exception.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen jointly approved the action after consulting on the escalating security crisis affecting Nigerians in South Africa. The boycott takes effect immediately and remains in place until further review by Assembly leadership.
Nigerians Face Deaths, Injuries and Forced Displacement
The violence has left Nigerian migrants with severe losses. The National Assembly noted that Nigerians have been killed, injured and displaced while losing businesses, investments and homes to the attacks MarketScreener. Since 2022, xenophobic mobs have killed 98 Nigerians in hate-related violence, prompting mass evacuations.
About 1,490 Nigerians have already been repatriated following the recent unrest, according to Yahoo. Many who remain face ongoing intimidation and property destruction. The attacks target not only Nigerians but other African nationals seeking to build better lives in South Africa.
Nigeria Demands Action on Xenophobic Violence
Nigeria's Assembly issued a stark ultimatum to the South African government. It called for immediate protection of foreign nationals, thorough investigations into all attacks, arrest of suspected perpetrators and prosecution of those found responsible MarketScreener. The demands reflect growing frustration with what Nigerian officials view as inadequate government response.
This boycott represents one part of a broader Nigerian government response that includes public condemnation of violence, coordinating evacuations and diplomatic engagement with South African officials. The suspension may be lifted if conditions improve and South African authorities take decisive action against the attacks.
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