Nigeria’s Parliament Bars Official Visits to South Africa

Nigeria’s National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa in response to continuing anti-migrant violence, including attacks against Nigerian citizens. The suspension covers lawmakers, parliamentary committees, officials, and staff and also extends to virtual engagements. The parliamentary officials cited reports of migrants being killed, injured, and displaced as the basis of their decision. Two Nigerians were allegedly killed in June during antimigrant protests. The Nigerian government has said at least 98 of its citizens have died in mob attacks and hate-related violence since 2022. The dispute comes amid tensions in South Africa, where high unemployment, crime, and pressure on social services have fueled hostility toward immigrants. However, analysts say these issues stem from broader governance failures and are not the fault of migrants.