Nigeria and Ghana Press South Africa to End Xenophobic Violence
In early September 2024, a wave of attacks targeting African migrants in South Africa left at least two Nigerians dead and prompted swift diplomatic protests from Abuja and Accra. The incidents, reported in the townships of Johannesburg and Pretoria, have reignited concerns about recurring xenophobia in the country, a problem that has flared periodically since the early 2000s.
Diplomatic Moves from Abuja and Accra
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu‑Ojukwu summoned South Africa’s acting High Commissioner to convey “grave concern” over the safety of Nigerians and other African nationals. She urged Pretoria to launch an immediate, impartial investigation and to share autopsy reports, case files and other evidentiary material with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate in Johannesburg.
A statement from the Nigerian Foreign Ministry, released on 3 September 2024, added that Permanent Secretary Dunoma Ahmed met with Acting High Commissioner Lesoli Machele to formalise Abuja’s demands for full transparency and unrestricted access for victims’ families.
Ghana took a parallel step a few days earlier. Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa summoned South African envoys after reports emerged of Ghanaian traders being harassed and their shops looted in Durban and Cape Town. Ablakwa warned that continued inaction could embolden vigilante groups and risk retaliation against South African businesses operating in Accra.
South Africa’s Official Response
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, said he had spoken with his Nigerian counterpart Bianca Odumegwu‑Ojukwu on 4 September 2024. Both officials reaffirmed the long‑standing bilateral relationship and agreed to deepen cooperation on people‑to‑people ties and joint efforts to address irregular migration through sustainable solutions.
President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly condemned the violence but also stressed the need for proper documentation among immigrants—a remark that drew criticism on social media, with activists arguing that such statements risk legitimising attacks regardless of legal status.
Context and Underlying Drivers
Observers note that the latest unrest mirrors earlier outbreaks of xenophobic violence in 2008, 2015 and 2019, when economic frustration, high unemployment and perceptions of job competition fueled attacks on foreign nationals. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), South Africa hosted approximately 4.2 million migrants in 2023, representing about 7 % of its total population.
Social media platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), have amplified unverified videos showing looting and confrontations in townships such as Soweto and Alexandra. While many clips lack verification, they have contributed to a heightened sense of insecurity among migrant communities.
Calls for Concrete Action
Both Nigeria and Ghana have demanded:
- A thorough, impartial investigation into the deaths and assaults.
- Immediate sharing of autopsy reports, police case files and forensic evidence with their respective diplomatic missions.
- Full access for victims’ families to legal proceedings and medical records.
- Public assurances from South African authorities that perpetrators will be prosecuted.
Analysts from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) caution that without decisive law‑enforcement action and sustained community‑engagement programmes, diplomatic pressure alone may not prevent future flare‑ups. The ISS recommends expanding the National Action Plan to Combat Xenophobia, increasing funding for local peace‑building initiatives, and strengthening the capacity of the South African Police Service to respond swiftly to hate‑motivated crimes.
Looking Forward
As of mid‑September 2024, no arrests have been publicly announced in connection with the reported deaths. The diplomatic engagements between Pretoria, Abuja and Accra signal a growing regional intolerance for xenophobic violence, but observers agree that tangible improvements will depend on South Africa’s willingness to enforce existing anti‑discrimination laws and address the socioeconomic grievances that often underlie such attacks.
Continued monitoring by regional bodies such as the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will be essential to ensure that commitments made at the diplomatic level translate into measurable protection for migrants living and working in South Africa.
