The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and ordered lawmakers and officials to boycott legislative activities organised or hosted by South African authorities until further notice.
The decision followed reports of continued xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and property destruction against Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.
The directive, announced on Friday by House of Representatives spokesman Akin Rotimi, covers lawmakers, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff. It followed concerns that Nigerians had been killed, injured or displaced and forced to leave their businesses, homes, investments and other property.
“Of particular concern to the National Assembly is the persistence of these incidents despite repeated appeals by the Federal Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders to the South African authorities to take decisive measures to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and bring perpetrators of xenophobic violence to justice,” he stated.
Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the decision came after consultations between the Senate and House leadership.
The South Africa suspension also covers conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, parliamentary exchanges and other legislative engagements organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by South African legislative authorities. It applies to both physical and virtual meetings.
No National Assembly delegation, committee, lawmaker, official or staff member may take part in such activities without prior express approval from the Assembly’s leadership. Existing invitations and planned programmes will also be reviewed.
The South Africa suspension follows an earlier condemnation by the National Assembly of renewed xenophobic attacks and its support for diplomatic efforts to address the violence.
The Assembly stressed that the measure does not reject Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people ties with South Africa.
“While parliamentary diplomacy and inter-legislative cooperation remain important, they must rest on mutual respect and a shared commitment to protecting life, property and lawful enterprise,” the statement noted.
The South Africa suspension will remain until further notice and may be reviewed as developments unfold.
What more should both countries do to protect Nigerians and strengthen their relationship?
