Tinubu Rejects South African Envoy Amid Xenophobia Concerns

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declined a meeting with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, who was sent by President Cyril Ramaphosa. This decision follows ongoing concerns regarding the safety of Nigerians in South Africa, exacerbated by the recent death of Nigerian citizen Chika Ibe, allegedly tortured to death by the South African Police Service.

The Nigerian government expressed dissatisfaction over unresolved safety issues and insisted that South Africa must fulfill previous commitments, including the ratification of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Early Warning Mechanism signed in October 2025. This agreement aims to enhance cooperation on citizen protection and address xenophobic violence.

The Nigerian government believes that ratifying this agreement could aid in securing justice and compensation for victims of past xenophobic attacks. Vice President Kashim Shettima condemned the attacks at the recent ECOWAS Summit, emphasizing the need for a united African response against xenophobia.