The Nigerian government has finalized plans to evacuate its citizens from South Africa due to reported attacks on foreigners. The first group of evacuees will leave from Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport on Wednesday night and arrive in Lagos early Thursday. The exact number of individuals in this initial batch has not been disclosed, and the evacuation costs will be covered by the Nigerian government.
Relevant ministries and agencies have made arrangements to support the evacuees upon their return. Upon arrival in Nigeria, the evacuees will undergo necessary documentation, profiling, and receive assistance before reuniting with their families. South Africa has seen anti-immigration demonstrations recently, citing concerns such as high unemployment, crime rates, and pressure on public infrastructure.
Some groups in South Africa have set a deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country by June 30, threatening nationwide protests if not adhered to. This situation has sparked worries across Africa, with various countries expressing concerns to the South African government through diplomatic channels. Ghana had previously evacuated 300 citizens from South Africa, including individuals detained for visa-related issues.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for respect for the rule of law, condemning violent protests and criminal acts against foreign nationals. He emphasized that such actions do not represent the views of the South African people or government policy. Ghana has urged the African Union to discuss what it terms as “xenophobic attacks” on African nationals in South Africa during the upcoming African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit in June.
