South Africa's Foreign ministry has announced the closing of
its diplomatic missions in the Nigerian cities of Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria
following reprisal attacks by Nigerians stirred up by xenophobic violence in
South Africa.
"After receiving reports and threats from some of the
Nigerians we decided to temporarily close while we are assessing the
situation," foreign ministry spokesman Lunga Ngqengelele said, adding the
missions were closed on Wednesday.
"So we will be monitoring the situation and when see it
necessary to open, we will re-open," he added.
He revealed they decided to suspend diplomatic operations in
Nigeria after "a group of people... came and tried force themselves
in" at the Lagos consulate.
"It was on those basis that we felt we need to protect
the employees and shut it down".
Deadly attacks on foreign-owned stores in South Africa's
commercial hub Johannesburg, between Sunday and Wednesday prompted reprisals
against South African businesses in Nigerian cities. South African telecoms
giant MTN was forced to close its shops in Nigeria as a precaution. Nigeria's
government has warned against such violence in Nigeria, and Nigerian President
Muhammadu Buhari has sent an envoy to South Africa to "express Nigeria's
displeasure over the treatment of her citizens". He also summoned the
South African ambassador for talks on Tuesday.
South Africa's foreign minister called the recent attacks on
foreigners in South Africa an embarrassment for her country. According to
national broadcaster SABC, minister Naledi Pandor said, "Our
government regrets all violence against foreign-owned stores or Africans from
other countries who are resident in South Africa."
Nigeria has declared it will boycott the World Economic
Forum on Africa in Cape Town, which was to be attended by its vice president
Yemi Osinbajo. Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Malawi’s Peter Mutharika
have also pulled out of the conference, but their governments have not given an
official reason for their no-show.
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