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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 re

A  wave of destruction hit the Gauteng province of South Africa last week, followed by the looting and burning of several shops in Pretoria. According to reports, an alleged Nigerian drug dealer shot and killed a taxi driver, and South African taxi drivers and locals immediately retaliated, taking the law into their hands. Since then, a series of destructive events ensued, with Gauteng province coming into a state of despair. Foreign nationals were asked to leave the country, while their shops were looted and burnt. The violence spread to Johannesburg’s Central Business District on Monday and has since seen the destruction of more than 50 mainly foreign-owned shops and business premises, and torching of cars and buildings. At least 70 people have been arrested in relation to the "xenophobic attacks" since Monday.  South Africans unleashed xenophobic attacks on other nationals in 2008 as well. Violence has since then further spread to two eastern suburbs and to the