Amid Xenophobic attacks, the National Assembly has directed politicians and government officials to stay away from legislative events hosted or organised by South Africa until further notice. It has also suspended official visits to the country.
The leadership of the Nigerian legislature attributed the decision to ongoing xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa in a statement signed by Kamoru Ogunlana, Clerk to the National Assembly.
The statement said reports of Nigerians being killed, injured and displaced, as well as being forced to abandon their homes, businesses, investments and other properties, had deeply alarmed the National Assembly.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, said in July that government data showed that 98 Nigerians had died in mob and hate-related attacks in South Africa since 2022.
He said, “Of particular concern to the National Assembly is the persistence of these incidents despite repeated appeals by the Federal Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders to the South African authorities to take decisive measures to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and bring perpetrators of xenophobic violence to justice.”
Additionally, the NASS Clerk, Kamoru Ogunlana, explained that the decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
According to him, the directive applies to official visits undertaken by members, committees, officers, and administrative staff of the National Assembly.
It further encompasses conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, parliamentary exchanges, and related legislative engagements hosted, organized, sponsored, or co-sponsored by South African parliamentary authorities.
According to the National Assembly, the suspension covers both physical and virtual engagements.
However, the statement noted that no official delegation or individual member may participate in any such activities during the suspension period without prior express authorization from National Assembly leadership.
Backstory…
The latest Xenophobia attacks intensified in 2026, when anti-migrant protests and attacks spread across parts of South Africa.
In June, two Nigerians were killed amid the unrest, with Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry saying one was allegedly killed by police officers and another by unidentified attackers. The developments came as some protesters gave foreigners deadlines to leave certain communities.
The problem, however, predates the current crisis. South Africa experienced major xenophobic violence in 2008, 2015 and 2019, with Nigerians among the foreign nationals affected.
The 2019 attacks became particularly sensitive for Nigeria after reports of Nigerians being attacked and businesses destroyed prompted diplomatic tensions and retaliatory protests against South African businesses in Nigeria.
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