Nigeria completes repatriation of approximately 1,500 nationals from South Africa

Nigeria has successfully completed the evacuation of its citizens from South Africa, with nearly 1,500 people airlifted out of the country amidst mounting pressure from anti-immigrant groups on undocumented foreigners to leave.

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This development comes as foreign nationals from several African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, have been departing South Africa for weeks under government-assisted repatriation programmes.

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South Africa, a long-time destination for both documented and undocumented African workers, has been grappling with weeks of protests and unrest targeting immigrants, who are accused of taking jobs and resources.

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According to Nigeria's foreign ministry spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa, the evacuation has ended, with 1,490 Nigerians airlifted between June 10 and July 15.

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The departures began after fringe South African groups intensified demands for undocumented migrants to leave by June 30, sparking violent protests and clashes that resulted in the deaths of at least four foreign nationals.

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Earlier in July, Malawi reported that it had brought back 38,000 nationals in just a month, while Zimbabwe said it had repatriated nearly 21,300 citizens.

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Uganda's government stated that around 1,100 of its nationals had been repatriated, and hundreds of Ghanaians, Mozambicans, and Kenyans have also left South Africa.

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Nigeria's foreign minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously expressed concerns that the situation for foreigners in South Africa was deteriorating, and urged authorities to investigate the June 28 killings of two Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, during the xenophobic protests and attacks on migrants.

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However, South African police claimed that the deaths were not connected to the protests, despite accusations that authorities have not done enough to stop the violence, which has seen shops owned by immigrants burned and looted.

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Kimiebi Ebienfa stated that while Nigeria values its bilateral relations with South Africa, the Federal Government reaffirms its stance that all forms of xenophobia, racial intolerance, and violence against foreign nationals are unacceptable.

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Despite calls from some Nigerian lawmakers for a hardline response, Ebienfa said that Abuja will continue to engage constructively with the South African Government through diplomatic channels.