Overview
- Nigeria hosted a South African delegation led by Ronald Lamola for candid talks that sought to calm tensions over repeated attacks on African migrants in South Africa.
- Nigeria has completed a voluntary repatriation programme that returned nearly 1,490 citizens, with the final flight carrying 305 people from Johannesburg.
- Nigerian officials told the talks they have documented cases where South African police appeared unwilling to intervene in attacks, raising concerns about possible state failings or complicity.
- South Africa told Nigerian counterparts it condemns xenophobia and noted that more than 500 Nigerian nationals had been processed through its criminal justice system on various charges while investigations and arrests continue.
- Both sides agreed to tone down inflammatory public rhetoric and pursue diplomatic and security cooperation to protect migrants, improve policing and address underlying crime and migration pressures that have fuelled violence.