Nigeria evacuates 1,490 citizens from South Africa after Xenophobic attacks

Nigeria has completed the voluntary evacuation of 1,490 of its citizens from South Africa following a wave of xenophobic attacks, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

The Ministry said the exercise ended with the arrival of a fifth evacuation flight carrying 305 returnees and two government officials from Johannesburg to Lagos on July 15.

Spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said the repatriation was undertaken after consultations with South African authorities over the safety of Nigerians amid attacks targeting foreign nationals.

According to the Ministry, the five-phase evacuation programme enabled Nigerians who voluntarily chose to return home to do so safely.

The evacuation follows weeks of anti-immigrant protests and xenophobic attacks in parts of South Africa, where foreign nationals have been blamed by some groups for unemployment, crime and pressure on public services. The unrest has resulted in attacks on migrants and foreign-owned businesses, prompting concerns from several African governments.

Nigeria has condemned the violence against its citizens, including the deaths of at least two Nigerians during the recent unrest, and called on South African authorities to ensure those responsible are held accountable.

The latest developments have renewed attention on the recurring problem of xenophobic violence in South Africa, which has experienced similar outbreaks in the past, including major attacks in 2008 and 2015 that left dozens dead and displaced thousands of foreign nationals.

The government said it remains committed to protecting the welfare of its citizens abroad and will continue engaging South African authorities on the safety and security of Nigerians living in the country. The Federal Government welcomed the returnees and pledged continued support through relevant agencies to aid their reintegration into society.

The evacuation also comes amid growing diplomatic concern across Africa over the treatment of migrants in South Africa, with several countries closely monitoring the situation as Pretoria works to contain the unrest and restore calm.