President Bola Tinubu declines to meet a South African delegation sent by President Cyril Ramaphosa amid renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. Multiple Nigerian outlets report that the delegation arrived in Abuja on July 24, seeking an audience with Tinubu, and was led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola. Instead of a direct meeting, Tinubu directs the envoys to hold discussions at ministerial level, with sources citing the choice of meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, rather than the president himself. One report says the President directs the delegation to the Foreign Affairs Minister, though the overall account is that talks proceed without Tinubu personally.
The envoys condemn recurring violence and reiterate South Africa’s stance against xenophobia and intolerance, while also emphasizing the country’s right to enforce immigration laws. The Nigerian representatives urge action against attackers through due process rather than mob retaliation. The exchanges are described as part of efforts to de-escalate tensions between the two countries following renewed violence in April 2026 and displacement that has led to evacuations of Nigerians, including ahead of an African Union extraordinary summit scheduled in late August in Angola.
