Nigeria has completed the voluntary repatriation of 1,490 citizens from South Africa following weeks of rising anti-immigrant sentiment, xenophobic attacks and protests targeting undocumented migrants, the Nigerian government has announced. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the final phase of the government-supported exercise ended with the arrival of a fifth flight carrying 305 Nigerians from Johannesburg to Lagos on Thursday. The repatriation program began on June 10 as tensions increased in South Africa, where anti-immigration groups staged protests and called for undocumented foreigners to leave the country. Thousands of migrants from several African nations have since either returned home voluntarily or faced deportation.
In a statement, Nigeria’s foreign ministry reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Nigerians living abroad, while condemning “all forms of xenophobia, racial intolerance and violence” against foreign nationals. The Nigerian government said it would continue diplomatic engagement with South African authorities to address concerns over the treatment of its citizens and promote peaceful relations between both countries. Abuja has also accused anti-immigrant violence of contributing to the deaths of two Nigerian citizens on June 28, ahead of an unofficial deadline announced by South African anti-migrant groups urging undocumented foreigners to leave.
Earlier this week, Nigeria announced plans to seek compensation from South Africa for businesses and properties reportedly abandoned by Nigerian nationals who left during the crackdown. The latest repatriation comes amid renewed debate in South Africa over migration, unemployment and border control, with authorities insisting that immigration laws must be enforced while rights groups warn against discrimination and violence against migrants.
