Tensions between South Africa and its neighbors are escalating as anti-immigrant violence continues to rip through local communities.
Nigeria’s foreign minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, warned that safety for African immigrants is rapidly deteriorating across the country.
The grim reality struck again following the disputed killings of two Nigerian nationals amid ongoing xenophobic protests.
Musa Yunana Joe was killed outside his shop, while Charles Iroegbu died during a tense police interrogation.
Nigeria has demanded a thorough investigation, threatening that all diplomatic options remain on the table if violence persists.
South African authorities urged Nigeria to submit actionable information, claiming Joe’s death was unrelated to the volatile protests.
For weeks, angry mobs have marched against undocumented migrants, blaming them for taking jobs and straining public services.
Shadows of fear now hang over foreign shopkeepers as businesses are looted and torched in targeted attacks.
The bloodshed is rippling across the continent, with Mozambique and Ghana also mourning citizens killed in recent weeks.
In response to the hostility, hundreds of Nigerians and Ugandans are boarding urgent, voluntary evacuation flights back home.