Di meeting between Nigeria and South Africa diplomats wey hold for Abuja on Monday, dem don dey talk as brothers, but tension still dey for air. Di high-ranking officials from Abuja and Pretoria meet for Nigerian ministry of foreign affairs, both sides address each other as brothers and tok about Nigeria support for fight against apartheid. But dem also show positions wey no likely resolve, with Nigerian side denouncing Pretoria “complicity” for di protests.
For months, South Africa don dey see protests, some violent, against African immigrants wey dem blame for crime, unemployment, and stress on public services. Di anti-migrant groups don burst into people homes and drag dem into police vans, according to reports. At least four foreign nationals don die for attacks linked to di protests, though some African governments say di toll higher.
Nigeria junior minister for foreign affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, before di meeting go into closed-door session, say: “We get records of Nigerians wey get legitimate papers to remain for South Africa, yet dem attack dem. And we see some mob actions wey we see di police dey watch, as if dem no fit do anything to address dis situation.”
South Africa minister for international relations, Ronald Lamola, tok say di country dey face “criminality” from immigrants, including drug peddling and wire fraud. E add say: “President Cyril Ramaphosa and di government wey e lead don dey outspoken against any intolerance. But we get right to deal decisively with irregular migration, undocumented immigrants, including acts of criminality.”
More than 160,000 people don flee South Africa according to AFP tally wey based on figures from African governments wey dey repatriate dia citizens, including about 1,500 Nigerians. Nigeria and Ghana don dey particularly outspoken over South Africa government handling of di protests. Some African governments don report higher death toll than di four wey South Africa police confirm.
South Africa, as one of continent most industrialised economies, don dey magnet for both documented and undocumented immigrants. But di nation also dey saddled with high unemployment, weak social services, and high crime. Analysts say immigrants dey scapegoated for di country broader social ills and government failures.
