Tinubu Declines Meeting With South African Envoy Amid Xenophobia Concerns

President Bola Tinubu has reportedly declined to meet a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, amid growing diplomatic tensions over renewed attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

The South African delegation, led by the country’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday, July 24, to deliver what was described as an important message from President Ramaphosa.

According to sources familiar with the matter, President Tinubu did not receive the delegation personally. Presidency sources said the envoys arrived without prior formal notice and, after reviewing the prevailing circumstances, the President directed them to hold discussions with officials of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs instead.

The diplomatic development comes amid widespread outrage over the death of Chika Ibe, a Nigerian national who allegedly died while in the custody of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Cape Town. The incident has intensified concerns about the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa and renewed calls for stronger diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

Diplomatic sources said Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, advised against granting the delegation a presidential audience at this time, citing continued attacks on Nigerians, their businesses, and properties in South Africa.

According to the sources, Nigeria is insisting that South Africa formally ratify and sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Early Warning Mechanism before further high-level diplomatic engagements take place. The agreement was originally conceived to strengthen cooperation between both countries in preventing xenophobic attacks, improving information sharing, and enhancing the protection of citizens.

The reported decision reflects growing frustration over repeated incidents involving Nigerian nationals in South Africa despite years of bilateral discussions aimed at addressing xenophobia and strengthening consular cooperation.

Nigeria and South Africa maintain one of Africa’s most significant diplomatic and economic partnerships, but recurring attacks on foreign nationals have periodically strained relations between the two countries. The Federal Government has consistently urged South African authorities to protect Nigerians residing in the country and ensure that those responsible for acts of violence are held accountable.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian Presidency nor the South African government had issued an official statement on the reported decision or the outcome of the envoy’s visit. The circumstances surrounding Chika Ibe’s death remain under investigation by South African authorities.