Xenophobia: Tinubu snubs South African president’s envoy; delegation stranded in Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly declined to receive a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa amid renewed concerns over persistent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

VERY NIGERIAN reports that the South African delegation, led by the country’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday, July 24, with what was described as an important message for President Tinubu.

The development came less than 24 hours after the reported killing of a Nigerian, Chika Ibe, who was allegedly picked up from his residence in Bellville, Cape Town, and tortured to death by personnel of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Sources said Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, advised that it was not the appropriate time for President Tinubu to receive the delegation, citing the continued attacks on Nigerians, their businesses and properties in South Africa.

She was also said to have insisted that South Africa must first submit a signed copy of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Early Warning Mechanism (EWM), signed by both countries in Abuja on October 22, 2025, before further diplomatic engagement could proceed.

The agreement was designed to strengthen cooperation in preventing violence, protecting citizens, addressing consular matters and creating rapid communication channels to respond to threats involving foreign nationals.

Nigerian officials also noted that the framework could have supported compensation claims for Nigerians whose businesses and properties were destroyed during previous xenophobic attacks, but South Africa has yet to ratify the agreement or compensate victims.

As of the time of filing the report, Presidency sources said President Tinubu had not agreed to meet the South African envoy, while the outcome of a telephone conversation reportedly initiated by President Ramaphosa remained unclear.

The diplomatic move is believed to be linked to growing concerns over the possible impact of worsening Nigeria-South Africa relations on South African investments in Nigeria and Abuja’s push for stronger African Union action against xenophobia.

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