Tuggar Denounces Afrophobia Against Nigerians in South Africa

At an event in Lagos, Yusuf Tuggar, the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, condemned the ongoing targeting of Nigerians and other black Africans in South Africa, describing it as Afrophobia rather than xenophobia. He noted that non-black Africans seem exempt from the anti-migrant sentiments.

Tuggar highlighted Nigeria's historical sacrifices for South Africa's liberation from apartheid, recalling how Nigeria supported victims of the Soweto massacre in 1976 by providing scholarships and accommodations. He traced the roots of segregation in Africa to colonial practices and criticized the lasting psychological effects of apartheid policies.

Tuggar raised concerns about possible external influences behind the anti-migrant campaigns in South Africa, questioning the origins of funding for groups like March & March and Operation Dudala. He emphasized that understanding these developments requires a historical context but should not be seen as justification for the violence against black Africans.