Senate, Reps Suspend Trips To South Africa Over Xenophobic Attacks
The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers and officials to boycott legislative programmes hosted by the country until further notice.
Politics Nigeria reports that the decision followed growing concerns over renewed xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
The resolution was reached after consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives over reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses, homes, investments and other properties.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the legislative leadership said it was “seriously concerned” about the recurring incidents.
It noted that repeated appeals by the Federal Government and other stakeholders for South African authorities to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and prosecute perpetrators had failed to prevent further reports of attacks.
The National Assembly also acknowledged the Federal Government’s interventions, including efforts to assist affected Nigerians and facilitate the evacuation of citizens who wished to return home.
Under the new resolution, official trips to South Africa involving the National Assembly, its committees, senators, members of the House of Representatives, officials and staff have been suspended.
The boycott extends to conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchanges and other programmes organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities. It also covers both physical and virtual participation in legislative activities hosted by South African authorities.
Ogunlana said the Clerk had been directed to communicate the decision to senators, members of the House, committees, departments, directorates and other officials to ensure strict compliance.
The suspension will remain in force until further notice and may be reviewed by the National Assembly leadership depending on developments.
The latest action comes amid a series of measures taken by the Nigerian government in response to renewed attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
In June, Nigeria commenced the evacuation of citizens from South Africa following fresh reports of xenophobic violence. The first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived in Lagos on June 11, with additional flights subsequently bringing more citizens home.
By July 9, the number of evacuated Nigerians had risen to about 1,000.
The Federal Government said the evacuation was targeted at Nigerians who voluntarily registered, were screened and cleared to return to the country.
The exercise continued in August, with 83 Nigerian returnees arriving in Lagos following renewed attacks. Another 67 Nigerians returned a week later and were received by relevant government agencies for documentation, profiling and reunification with their families.
The Federal Government has also raised the issue at the continental level.
On August 30, President Bola Tinubu expressed concern over recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa during deliberations at the African Union.
Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Luanda, Angola, called for urgent collective action against xenophobia and Afrophobia.
He urged African leaders to place the issue on the agenda of the AU’s 40th Ordinary Session scheduled for January 2027.
The President acknowledged South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws but argued that violence and hostility against Africans and other foreign nationals could not be treated as an isolated domestic matter.
He called for stronger continental mechanisms to protect the safety, dignity and rights of African nationals, regardless of their countries of origin.
Tinubu also advocated dialogue, preventive diplomacy and collective action as tools for tackling xenophobia and preserving African solidarity.
The President’s intervention formed part of broader discussions on peace and security in Africa, during which Nigeria backed the Luanda Action Plan on conflict prevention.
