Xenophobia: South Africa shuts embassy in Nigeria after reprisal attacks
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/09/xenophobia-south-africa-shuts-embassy.html
South Africa said Thursday it has closed its diplomatic missions in
the Nigerian cities of Abuja and Lagos following violence carried out
against South African businesses in reprisal for attacks on
foreign-owned stores in Johannesburg.
“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 shut on Wednesday.
“So we will be monitoring the situation and when see it necessary to open, we will re-open,” he said.
He said the decision to suspend operations at the two missions was
made 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”.
Both countries stepped up security on Wednesday after deadly attacks
on foreign-owned stores in Johannesburg triggered reprisals against
South African businesses in Nigerian cities.
Diplomatic tensions have risen between the continent’s superpowers,
with Nigeria declaring it would boycott the World Economic Forum on
Africa in Cape Town, which was to be attended by its vice president,
Yemi Osinbajo.
On Tuesday, Nigeria summoned the South African ambassador for talks
and said President Muhammadu Buhari was sending an envoy to convey his
displeasure to President Cyril Ramaphosa.