Nigeria recalls envoys in South Africa over xenophobia

Nigeria has summoned its envoys from South Africa following the recent outbreak of deadly 'xenophobic' violence in the country. According to a foreign ministry statement dated Saturday, the Nigerian ambassador in Pretoria and the country's consul general in Johannesburg have been asked to return to the West African country for consultations. The officials have been recalled over the "ongoing xenophobia targeting foreigners” in South Africa that has created "fear and uncertainty in the minds of African migrants,” the statement said. Nigerian lawmakers have also called for compensation from the South African government for the damaged properties of their citizens in the attacks. South Africa's department of international relations denounced Abuja’s move as "an unfortunate and regrettable step," stressing that Pretoria is committed to maintaining good ties with Nigeria. Several weeks of violence in South Africa’s major cities have claimed at least seven lives, with the police failing to control the mobs who keep attacking foreigners. 

Over 300 people have been arrested by the police in connection with the violence gripping South Africa. The unrest has also forced thousands of immigrants to abandon their homes. The recent unrest has strained South Africa’s relations with regional governments as many migrants have decided to leave, creating worries in their home countries. The violence has revived memories of the xenophobic bloodshed in 2008, when 62 people were killed in Johannesburg's townships.