The Nigerian and South African governments are to launch an “early warning” system to help track and deter xenophobic attacks against Nigerian migrants.
The announcement was made at a news conference in Pretoria, after a meeting between the South African foreign minister and her Nigerian counterpart.
The new system will comprise of a forum that will meet every three months, bringing together representatives from both countries including immigration officials, business associations and civil society groups.
“The early warning centre would allow us to keep each other abreast of issues and help prevent violence,” South Africa’s foreign minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said.
Nigeria’s foreign minister Geoffrey Onyeama said he had received assurances Nigerians in South Africa would be able to live in peace and called for an end to “mass attacks”.
He also said that groups in Nigeria calling for the retaliatory expulsion of South African residents and businesses “do not speak on behalf of the government”.
At media briefing with South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, in Pretoria, today.@DIRCO_ZA@MFA_Nigeria@AsoRock #Ubuntu
Attacks against foreigners and foreign-run businesses have erupted regularly in recent years in South Africa, fuelled by the country’s high unemployment and poverty levels.
Last month, foreign nationals including Nigerians were targeted in the capital Pretoria and several shops were looted.
The Nigerian government responded by called for the African Union to step in to stop “xenophobic attacks” on its citizens and claiming 20 Nigerians had been killed in similar attacks last year.
There are an estimated 800,000 Nigerians in the country, many living in Johannesburg.
